I just see it as a challenge, rather than an unfairness. It's a challenge that sort of echoes the real world, too...it's not always the best that wins, but the most popular. I've made the semifinals twice, with two different songs, and hope to do it again now with a third. I don't really care about winning a hundred bucks, and I don't expect to ever nail that $5000 until my recordings improve. But if I can hang on to a top ten spot without any particular fan base, so can others.