I appreciate you laying this out, no offense from me
! That's what a discussion board is all about.
From what I've read, it sounds like you had a pretty commando touring plan. Rope drop, hitting the main rides, using FP later. That is definitely a touring choice many use. If I'm hearing you correctly, you are saying you are willing to pay ~$1000 so you don't have to have a commando touring plan.
We chose not to do that and instead preferred to plan extensively at 60 days and used other ways to obtain access to additional rides whether it was refreshing while in the park, visiting parks multiple times during the trip, you get the idea.
When we talk about headliners, what would that be considered at the MK? Space Mountain, 7DMT, BTRR, Splash, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan?
During the holidays, these rides can all have wait times north of 60 minutes. In the past I would have had a FP. Now if the speculation is correct, I won't. My choice is gone unless I want to wait 6 hours or pay $25 pp per ride, per day. For the 5 of us, that would be an extra $750 for just those rides. We haven't even gotten to EPCOT/AK/HS with the tiers. So now I will have to switch to a commando plan, pay $ for what once was free, or not ride the rides.
The thread you started asks what will make me excited about genie. Based on everything I've read, and by what you and others are speculating, an app telling me where to get a Dole Whip while taking away my choice to plan in advance is not going to excite me enough to make up for the additional costs I am going to incur.
That's just me though and I'm sure others will find benefits if this all proves out.