not so fast --
I disagree with two of your viewpoints.
1) The entire point is to crown a SINGLE national champion in each sport. I disagree, I think it is about finding the All-American top 8 which can change things a lot.
2) If you don't run a top-20 time, you don't deserve to be at nationals.
This is false because a top-20 time does not equate to "proving over the course of a season" that you belong at nationals, which you have claimed several times.
All it means is you had the money to fly to Stanford or Notre Dame and get in ONE fast race, and run a time you don't really deserve.
Would you even consider for one second qualifying teams and individuals to nationals in cross country based on a descending order list of best times? Hell no! It is head-to-head competition that proves who deserves to be there.
Track should work the same way.