This is insane. So some athletes will have to run an extra race - like 1,500 meters even? They will be dead tired and complete non-factors come the SF or Final if they actually make it.
Athletes are rested for 400 meters with the relays on the schedule and now they will be forced to run extra race if they don't get automatic spot? Yeah, I can see more DNS in repechages.
This is an idea that profits top-heavy nations, USA (duh), East Africa in 800/1500 but that is about it.
PS. Like mentioned, we'll see people walking off track if they can no longer qualify by place in the heats. The juice won't be worth the squeeze. Hell, some outsiders will walk right off after 100 meters in heats and focus on the repechage already most likely.
I'm amazed how WA is trying to fix something that isn't broken