As a competition shooter who shoots a lot of different sports IDPA is the only game in town that is embracing change, asking its members what they want and is tackling the great www. through social media, you-tube, blogging etc. It's also the sport you'll be reading about if you subscribe to the Shooting/Outdoor/Tactical Wires because they are amping up their PR efforts. You put all these things together combined with the fact that the sport is the easiest (and least expensive) for new customers from the conceal carry market, IDPA is growing... FAST.
I have competed in IDPA for several years now and I found the subjectivity most frustrating. My first IDPA Nationals I encountered an SO that literally sucked 5 years of "fun in IDPA" away from me like a Pit of Dispair. This years IDPA Indoor Nationals was an absolutely BLAST. No one yelled at me. Every single SO treated me with respect and was friendly. Kudos to Frank Glover and the staff for designing the stages that were straight forward and simple but were challenging and fun at the same time. I shot poorly but I enjoyed every single stage and I think that's important for shooters of all levels.
As for top shooter participation, if shooters are sponsored by major manufacturers, I think we'll see a number of them return to IDPA. If that's the sports that's getting the press and it features the guns that manufacturers make, that only makes sense. It's not about prize tables, its about prestige for both the shooter and the company. As we have seen with USPSA in the past, companies don't have to put out press releases on their shooters. The sport does it for them. Or if the manufacturer sends one out, that's twice the exposure. If IDPA is successful in internet marketing and PR, it will be the "it" sport much like 3-Gun has become.
IDPA is easy for new shooters to start in - think the untapped conceal carry market. It's the easiest sport for gun manufacturers to justify sponsorship dollars. After all, its a sport that features the guns they make. IDPA has always been the most social of the action sports, from social events, hospitality, awards banquets and... people are always talking about it.
Just my thoughts on it.