We should just make State an open tournament then. If you sign up, you're a state qualifier. That is essentially what it is at some districts. Some weights at Districts have like 4 kids and 3 of them make it to State. kid with a 21-20 record at 106 or 113 in 1A has probably over half of those wins via forfeit.
I'm not going to get into my accolades as a wrestler growing up, but I'm not worried about what you think I'm worried about above. I just think being a State qualifier in wrestling in Iowa should mean something. Being on the stand should mean something. Hell, even the amount of 3x and 4x state champs is becoming crazy.
Also, if kids are on the fence about wrestling in the first place, they most likely aren't competing at that level, and it wouldn't be the factor for them not to go out for wrestling.
I agree with all you are saying for youth wrestling, but high school can hold a different standard.