I think compensation picks are important in two regards: 1. For teams who are in smaller markets, it is a way to even the field by giving them a better shot at acquiring new talent to develop. 2. I see nothing wrong with rewarding teams who are able to leverage June/July acquisitions. The solution might be to make the comp picks automatic - whether the team offered salary arbitration or not. Maybe make the sandwich pick dependent upon arbitration, but not the regular pick. I'd like to see the draft kept at a minimum of 50 rounds, partially for the DFE process, but also because it makes scouting beyond the top players much more important. Manny Parra was a huge payoff as a late-round DFE. So is Tim Dillard (who I think is arguably the best starting pitcher prospect in the organization). Mike Green, the safety the Chicago Bears recently traded, was a Mr. Irrelevant in the NFL - and he was a very good player for them for a few years. Late-round picks are another equalizer for small and mid-market teams.