It depends on which outweighs the other. Personally I have zero problem with using the same eligibility criteria as every other sport, even if it means that the entry requirements that some disagree with are activated more often simply because RL is still an underdeveloped sport.

Structurally, there's nothing wrong with the rules that isn't wrong with other sports, and they cope just fine. That we have more heritage players is much more the product of the conservatism of the sport as a whole than failing to expose amateurs from developing nations. So from a long term point of view, I see nothing wrong there.

What is wrong is that there's only an incentive to trigger it every 4 years, and in the meantime neglect the good that a strong top level can have for junior's aspirations.

Mod badge, you have to read everything

Seriously? You don't think some kid in Fiji is more likely to take up playing the game due to getting excited watching Hayne et al make Fiji a competitive side in the World Cup as opposed to not seeing a Fiji amateur team made up of locals playing in some b grade comp that isn't shown on TV?

Reality is these countries are not going to have FT prof RL comps for decades, the hope is to see more kids take up the game, better development for those kids, get more of them playing in SL and NRL and have competitive international RL. Anything else is simply wishful thinking.

So some kid in Milan is going to watch Italy playing in the WC and see star man Craig Gower and think 'wow we really have similar backgrounds if he can do it I can'

Why because I dare to state an opinion that's not the same as yours ???

Get out more mate, then you won't have to spend half your life defending a joke comp.

So these Australian ' Italians, Scots and Lebanese ' are going to return to living in their ' Homelands ' and help set up teams/clubs and coach the future generations ?

No, because your opinions are complete nonsense and you can't back them up when questioned. Anyway, I'm not the one repeatedly posting on a thread about something I'm not interested in.
Lebanon has a thriving domestic scene that started on the back of their involvement in the 2000 World Cup.

So which Lebanese aussies have emigrated to Lebanon?

I don't know, who cares? What difference does that make to anything?

Probably not (though there are examples of players going to countries and setting up or helping out) and nor do they need to. That is the job of the RL body in that country with the support of the RLIF. The idea is the body sets up the comps and opportunities and the stars inspire kids to play by performing on the biggest stage and being shown on TV that country.

I took up American football because I got hooked watching the game on ch4. It didn't matter to me non of the NFL players were English.

The model you and cas are advocating would see Italy fielding an amateur team in a international comp that receives no coverage, how is that going to inspire some kid in Milan to pick up a steeden?

Which they probably don't realize already happens on a yearly basis.