Well, what we have here is what the economists call a difference between notional and effective demand.
Having a good-quality National League which provides a stepping stone to pro-football is a good ambition and it's only realistic for it to be semi-pro (although if that is our ambition we should put a much stronger cap on imports).
But can we afford it? Or rather: are we prepared to soak club and social footballers to pay for it, since pokie funding only goes so far and there are bugger-all commercial streams?