Do bowlers really want competition or just easy money?

I see it all the time.

Take a high average team in a handicap league, they have dominated the league for years easily winning it 7 of the last 8 years. There team average is 50 pins higher than the next team in the league. When the league tries to raise the handicap percentage from 80% to 90% to give other teams some chance, all the members of the top team cry foul. Get better they say don’t penalize us because of our higher averages. Scratch leagues are available but they would just be an also ran in those leagues. Do they want competition or easy wins/money?

A women’s scratch league in town has one dominate team consisting of 5 of the top 8 women in town. They win the league handily every year. One year they only lost 6 points of a possible 144. The league has tried to put a cap in but the centers owner bowls on the team and stops the change each year. The league struggles to get enough teams each year to continue. There are men’s scratch leagues available but here they might only be a top 5 team.  Do they want competition or easy wins/money?

Two scratch tournaments are available within an hours driving distance. One will have most of the top bowlers in the area there, competition will be fierce. Prize money is good but you only have a 50:50 shot of cashing at best. The other will be on an easy condition in house they like. The prize money is not as good but you almost assured that you will cash in the event. The bowlers will flock to the second event.
 
I believe this mindset carries over to other tournaments as well. Many bowlers don’t want to enter tournaments if they don’t feel they have at least an 80% chance of cashing. Since in many cases they can’t get that type of assurance they don’t enter. This is one of the reasons I believe that tournament entries are down because to this feeling of entitlement.

Whatever makes the money.

There are times to compete, and times to make easy money...that's sports for ya!
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it doesn't take an average to win in match play!

Everybody wants to be a winner or at least be a part of a winner.  Why do you think there are so many Yankee fans?  People like winners.

As far as the leagues in town, it doesn't seem like there is clear transgression to follow as to what the top flight leagues are.  There are only 5 scratch leagues that I know of, 3 open and 2 women's and one of these leagues is capped.  I would like to try the most prestigious league in town, but I can't even tell which one that is.  I have bowled in all 3 open leagues, but really don't think any of these houses the very best bowlers in town.  The biggest is a trios league, but even that one lacks several top 25 bowlers in town.  I like the idea of the travel league because that eliminates a house bowler from dominating, but that league needs to be built back up.  I would like to see every house find a significant sponsor and put enough money into the league in hopes of drawing out the very best competition.  Make it a showcase of the city's best.

For me, family and funds limit my participation.  I have been bowling in scratch leagues for several years now and have not finished first in any of them until this year.  I never complained when I got beat, I just tried harder next time.