l don't think it is a bummer of a rule if you look at the whole picture of the points to the handicap series,but if the series is going to happen again next year then we could have a discussion on the rules.
a quick explanation,the runners at the top end of the first result would have a few more points deducted than the lower end (which looks unfair) but the runners who have the lower points in that race would probabaly not have them counted in the final count,(ie 4 out of the 5 races final count).
Which brings us on to the second race. As l have now got everyone's real running time and not a predicted time,then the next race will have a true bearing on the results,so if a deduction is needed for race two then it should not have if any effect on the final results.(alright if you nit picked you might find the odd one).
By race three, things will and should be on even keel and true results will reamain through out and the runners that have not run more than 2 races will not included on the final count,but will be on the overall series results.
The numbers of runners will always drop off in this type of event,which is the norm.Some runners will want to have a bash at it,(which it is all part of it,) find that it's not their cup of tea and just drop out.Others get injured and have to miss out, and so on.
Like l said many times its for all,it's hard and its fun and its is there for all to take part or not.The race belongs to all and l am just part of it and more important are the people that help out and the runners themselves.
Thanks