Granted, I do think H/K are actually stronger on the ice in terms of actual skating and they were certainly royally screwed out of the worlds spot. However, my argument about all of this isn't that H/K should have had the GP instead or should have also had a spot. I never thought H/K had the qualifications for a spot this season. My contention is that S/D also did not have the qualifications and should not have gotten that spot at SC.
This was not an "outside the host picks go by the numbers" situation. Two For the Ice made a chart showing teams that did and did not get GP spots and what their rankings were on the criteria used to assign spots. There are quite a few teams who ranked higher than S/D who did not get spots or teams who rank much higher on the criteria lists who should have gotten a second spot before S/D got the first.
http://www.twofortheice.com/breaking-2017-18-grand-prix-draft-ice-dance/
*Min/Gamelin are the Olympic host ice dance team. They did finish 2 spots behind S/D at worlds, but are 26 on the world standing list to S/D's 49th and 34 (151.35)on the SB list to S/D's 38th (145.61).
*Coomes/Buckland were out last season because of injury. Penny was surprised that they didn't get an invite, and I think if the fed wasn't going to put them in under the comeback options, C/B would have known about it and therefore wouldn't have been surprised. They're ranked 28th in the world after having to set the season out. According to Kwanfan1818 in the thread in GSD discussing the assingments, "If the British Fed submitted them through the official process as return skaters, if last year's rules are used, their last SB gets intermingled into the SB list. C/B's SB from 2015-16 was 173.17, which would put them 15th on the SB list, and at the top of the list eligible for alternate's picks." That absolutely blows S/D's 151.35 out of the water. That's just numbers. They're also a team who has finished top 10 at worlds, on the podium at Euros, and medaled on the GP. That this team was left without a spot is the biggest headscratcher for me. Unquestionably this team is more credentialed than S/D.
*Mansour/Ceska weren't at worlds, but are #36 on both the world rankings and sb lists, putting them ahead of S/D on both of those criteria (or two out of 3 if you want to count a worlds appearance as a third criteria).
*Lorenz/Polizoakis are 32 on the world standings list and 28 on the seasons best list. They did finish one spot behind S/D at worlds by 2.75 points. However, that L/P did beat S/D in the FD there.
*Upcoming juniors don't have the same guarantees, but both Parsons and M/C are ranked considerably higher on both lists. I'm guessing Parsons will ultimately get SA and M/C could end up with a second through withdrawals.
*FB/S. Historically, teams who are top 24 on both lists have tended to get two spots, especially getting within a few spots of top 10 at worlds and. They're ranked 11th in the world. S/D are 49th. 11th highest ranked team in the world sure as heck deserves a second spot way before #49 gets one.
*Nazarova/Nikitin were 15th at worlds, 22 on the worlds standing list, and 27th on the seasons best list. They beat S/D by 27 spots on the worlds standing list and 11 spots on the SB list (with a score about 10 points higher than S/D, 155.35).
There are at least 4 teams who didn't get a spot who beat S/D on both world standings and seasons best criteria. There are another 4 teams who got one spot who should have probably gotten a second spot well before S/D got a first.
So, no, H/K shouldn't have gotten a spot, but S/D shouldn't have gotten one either. That they did, IMO, is just yet the latest gift that this team who's actual skating is mediocre at best has been given.
), enjoy! 
