Why the need to qualify for HUT Champs?

I honestly have absolutely no interest in playing Rivals for 0 rewards at all. What is the point in having to qualify? Also why is it down to 1000 HC points for positions that used to give you 2000 HC points? 

Champs should simply be free for everyone to play with no qualification. This would also increase the amount of players in champs and allow players in lower divisions to at least get some rewards out of it instead of being pushed further down by not being able to play or collect any rewards from the mode at all.