LOL... I like the idea of missing the crazy part... and if we ever assembled that kindava team, we'd need to all wear Amici Veloci jerseys or TE gear!
I think its just a matter of people being realistic about where they start themselves... its those people who put themselves into unrealistic time bunches that make things crazy
There are just so many people now and I just find big crowds a daunting in the best of situations (probably why my fave discipline is time trialling!)