And I'm still advocating it now. I believe my words wasn't exactly that it won't kill competitive integrity, but I pointed out that it won't make what we had becoming worse. I know there are shortcomings (and honestly, I'm just taking the trainwreck of KC in jest. Performance in my wording isn't simply because of competitive performance; it's also about fan, sponsorship, investors that drives the teams and the league forwards.
I never take one singular factor as an end-all catch because that would miss the entire point. It's Year 1 of the Partnership program. There'll be shitty organizational decisions, shitty management decisions, and shitty rosters that will drive people insane. But waiting isn't the horrible end that you pointed it out to be.
I just want to take a example of Team BDS in the LEC. Different game, but similar (and much more established) "franchising" system from Riot. They acquired Schalke's spot in Spring 2022 after the former had financial woes. They're the hot new squad that signed rising talents and established veterans. They were 9th place; out of 10th. Same with Summer; they were even worse, last place. They were riddled with issues. Player dramas, management woes, both BDS fans and outside observers were calling for their heads, saying Riot's making a mistake of allowing BDS to get the spot and for BDS to ruin it. But for 2023, they made changes. Thoroughly. Completely new roster and management team. They were improving for Winter 2023; 7th place. They made the playoffs that split. People were excited about the changes. And now? They just locked themselves a spot in the Spring 2023 Grand Finals.
It's a bit of a different situation between Team BDS (being a new team coming into an established league) and the likes of KC, KOI, TH, BBL (new teams in a newly established league). It's Year 1. Will we see changes from them during the off-season? If they value their fans and position within the ecosystem, I think they're going to. But it's very early to tell that Partnership killed competitive integrity.
There are always shitty teams with clueless management.