From reading this thread thus far, I get the feeling that if Centro had run a quicker time in today's Lausanne DL meet, his decision to skip USA Nationals would have been justified. It seems as if:
Skipping USA's + 3:32.70 1500 = Bad for the sport
Now let's suppose that Centrowitz ran well (maybe a 3:30.xx or even just a PR), in that event we would all be abuzz over this performance, which although would not expiate his absence at USA's in anyway, would completely overshadow the fact that he skipped the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP of his home country in order to obtain said time.
When discussing many of the major meets we've seen so far this season we consistently ask: "what about the sport?", and it seems this has come up again due to Centro running an overall poor tactical race. The fact is, however, that even PRing today would not be good for the sport. His absence at USA Nationals hurt the sport of Track and Field - and his performance, regardless of the result, would not change that.