I have to disagree with you on a number of counts.
Many of the Regional guys drive older cars that are just not competitive with the newer "National" cars. See an AMAC at the Runoffs anymore? Do they deserve a place to race? I think so. Not everyone can afford the $50K for a Nationally competitive car. But they love the sport and are frequently the guys who also volunteer as F&C, GRID, T&S, Tech as well.
I am also our Region treasurer, chair a couple of TT events each year, and have been a road race treasurer as well. Sad to say, we absolutely need all the drivers we can get in order to get above the profit/loss line in a Road Race. Visit the loss side too many events and the races will cease to exist. Maybe an exodus of the >110% drivers looks good to you but I see it as a killer to our ability to put on races.
In my usual run group - DSR/CSR/FA/FB/FM/FE, etc, I can be guranteed that I can be 10-12 seconds off of the FA or Stohr. I will be in the bottom half of the grid. I will get passed by a few of the leaders late in the race. The speed differential in my group is huge. Even watching mirrors does not always work well but the blue flags are essential.
I teach at our double school each year. The number of drivers that show up never having been in a race car or never having driven on a track have become the norm not the exception. We spend most of the weekend teaching them how to drive rather than working on the finer points of racing. Then they can get their Regional license after surviving 2 races and a National license shortly after that. Simply put, there is no measurable skill/lap time criteria to meet. The criteria is safety - Would the instructor feel safe beside the student on track?
Level 3 Track Trials are an excellent way to gain car control skills in a race car. In SEDIV, we have had a very successful TT (or SOLO I) program for 30 years with ~5 track events a year plus the Hill Climbs. Many current SEDIV Racers came up thru this program. As we run our events, it is much like a Friday TestNTune. 15-20 minute sessions but passing is controlled with a point by. Look across the rest of SCCA and you will not find too many Level 3 Track Trial events. Level I PDX and Level 2 Club Trial teach car control but not necessarily in a race car.