I have no real opinions about the contest itself, so I'm not going to say anything about that. I just wanted to add my perspective that I'm just participating, not even with full vis vorps, but ones that match the restricted trait spots in hopes I get a hidden abyssal trait lol. That's the huge value to me

The two games are intentionally entirely different for different reasons.

The base game, where the cost is only 1 Gold, is meant to be basically a lottery. Obviously, having a 6-Vis pet to breed will give you better odds, but the one-breed-per-player limit greatly helps in keeping the game pretty fair and random for everyone. It is also basically a free game - anyone can participate assuming they own any Sylvorpa.

The high stakes game is, exactly as the name suggests, aimed at an entirely different crowd. It is intended to be a game where veteran players can use the resources they've collected over a long tenure of playing to help improve their odds of winning top prizes. It is meant to be somewhat exclusive and expensive.

It is important for games to have features/contests/events aimed at veteran players with lots of resources as it rewards and incentivizes players to strive to reach the upper limits for their account. For example, the high stakes breeding game rewards players who have lots of wealth and big stables full of lots of pets. It incentivizes other players to reach such goals so that they can compete in similar future contests.

So, the thing that you are wanting changed was done intentionally and purposefully. There are TONS of other ways for players to participate and earn lots of prizes even if they are a one day old player. The majority of the Festival Forum Games cost nothing but time to enter and come with guaranteed lucrative prizes. It is okay for us to have one Forum Game that is exclusive and aimed at veteran players.