Hi Jeff. Thanks for reading and for the positive reaction. Yes, you are correct that whether or not the BAA changes the qual standard the effective finish time required to earn a bib is the same. I can't speak for the BAA's preferences but there is an outcry among runners when they meet the qual standard but are denied entry. For the 2024 race, there were 11,009 qualified runners denied entry which triggered anxiety, denial, anger, and a mad scramble for charity bibs and - supply/demand being what it is - a rising fundraising commitment. At the current standards the number of denied runners could very nearly double for the 2025 race and it will be an unholy mess. With a standards change there would be far fewer denied applicants. But it is too late now for the standards to change for 2025. What will the BAA do for 2026? Do they prefer to allow runners the boast of "I ran a BQ!", knowing that for many that does not mean they've earned a bib, or would they rather have more runners thinking "I need to refocus my training to meet these new qual standards"? We find out in October/November after the next application cycle.