I'm on the fence. I don't really like the first round bye but I also found the round robin more interesting when only 3/5 in each division made it in.
I'm the same way. The battle for 1/2, and 3/4 were huge back under the old format. It was make SF directly or have to play QF, and make QF or be out altogether and face potential relegation.
Maybe we should go to 12 teams with 4/6 teams in each pool making QF, that way it's not just a don't come last thing, but there's no bye either.
I think with the improvement of the lower level teams they could handle it. Teams 11/12 would be just as competitive as teams 9/10 were 5 years ago, and it leaves the lower nations out of a potential relegation scare during their weaker years. Nobody wants to see Slovakia or the Swiss relegated, and even Germany could stay up most of the time with 12 teams.