I completely disagree with the increased competitiveness for the SHW's. What this is doing is its skewing the IPF towards smaller lifters. Do you reallly think its a fair competition for a 270 lb guy to compete against alifter like me (I"m probably 335 right now)? Its not. This is just further proof that the IPF favors lighter lifters who dont' lift the big weights.
This is a direct result of the "Asian influence" on the IPF AND its a slap in the face of all of the old record holders. Its also the IPF bending over to try to get something from the IOC.
At our nationals we have maybe five or six competing in the SHW.
The only weight classes that tend to be filled up are the 220 lbs and sometimes the 198 lbs.
The lightest classes are even worse.
But my point is that the SHW division isn't as loaded as you may think.
I think the cutoff point for the heavyweights could've been at 300 lbs.
But then again, with it at 264 lbs, this could perhaps force powerlifters to become better athletes in all areas.
I know my PL club are a little too familiar with "After Bench Buffet".