And yes, being able to play through Asian Confederation as a playoff for the extra spot (not as a fully-fledged member) is the only way we'll develop. We won't do that by playing in OFC and feeling great after beating the Solomons.
OK, maybe this is not the point then. I might have got myself into a twist here.
I am trying to say that we need more meaningful (frequent) AW playing opportunities so that if we get to the WC automatically, we don't become whipping boys each and every time. We are a nation of athletes, and place good value on sporting ethos, so I do not buy this nonsense that we are not a footballing nation. We simply need more vision, and less of a NZF management that reminds me of EQC management (I am in Christchurch), or ACC management. Grey-faced, small-minded bureaucrats.
We need a meaningful and frequent international program. This could be via competitions, playoffs, international cups... I don't know - it is what I would expect NZF to get our team into. Even if we have a foreign-based team A, and a largely local or youth-based Team B, that could play reasonably often. This is what I call a long term vision for development.