Ahh, this old debate :-)
I think the big thing isn't whether tyres are new, about getting the right setup for the tyres on that particular track, and then having the talent to drive that setup combination quickly.
All of that comes down to experience and talent. The top guys can do is consistently, whilst us amateurs get one or more things wrong and we're a couple of seconds a lap behind them.
Even if it was more tightly controlled tyres it would still be about getting all your ducks in a line and doing it right.
Comparing to touring cars isn't quite the same, as new tyres can be seriously quicker, and talent has less of a factor - they're much easier to drive than off-road in my opinion.
As for attracting more people to do the nationals, looking at this years popularity it's more of a case who can get in, there's no shortage of people willing to spend however much it costs to do a season - whatever they're own personal goals.
In regionals trying to reduce the costs might make more sense - for me regionals are MORE expensive than nationals - and they're not full unlike the nationals.
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