Yes, I see it has. It took a long time to read through all that. I also saw what the attendance was this year. In an effort to get more attendance, they came up considerably short. In the past at Louisville, I have seen them have to take up part of the spectator parking and fence it off to allow for more street rods. It sure was not like that this year. I understand what a lot of the posters was saying about the glass cars. The rules were that the car, or vehicle had to be American made and 'replicate' 1948 or older. Nothing was said about it being a reproduction.
I love old cars, particularly those of pre-72. I even like to look over Rat-Rods. I think it is sometimes ingenious how some would take a car that most would not walk close to, for fear it would fall apart on them, and drive it to the Nationals. I am sure they were just as proud of their build as some of the high dollar cars. Some of them, I found to be were put together really well, regardless of how they looked. I guess some of the newer cars came to the Nationals just because they were allowed to come, and I really don't blame them. Problem is... there was no appeal to me, that is not what I went to see. I guess a lot of others felt the same way and didn't show up.
Sooner or later even the 'later' models will be worth something as the older ones fade out. But, one thing you can take to the bank. Unless something catastrophic happens to the pre-49s they will always be worth more to see to me. What seems 'barf-bag' to me now will be nostalgic to others later. But think about this... The pre 49s initially were put together from a basket of old parts that they could find and built to the owners imagination. I see nothing about the mid fifties-up that has been done that way, other than possibly changing the engine.
Another thing... the original rules stated that even the pre-49s had to be modified in some way. Where is all that in the newer models? All-in-all, it is what your preference is. The way they have changed it is not mine.

Ed