Amen. 

Instead of enforcing the pace of play rules already in place, they just gave those relatively few (who think we're there to watch them) a reason to bowl even slower...  Brilliant.

The good bowlers who throw more strikes should be FASTER than everyone else, not slower.  I must be getting old...  Yep I'm old.

Bingo.....   ^^^^^^^^^

Professional golf has had a slow play issue for years and rules in place to control it but they are just as gutless in enforcement. The most they have ever done is give a fine for slow play and the players make so much they just laugh at it.

At least in Golf, the group behind you can play though. That doesn't work for bowling.

In tournament golf groups do not play thru. The slower players are expected to catch up with the group in front.

In recreational golf you will find groups that will not let you play thru because they feel it slows them down. 

If you play at a well ran course, the Marshall will make slow groups yield.

Of course, not in tournaments.

The USBC is all about catering to the top 1%...

I though about you for a very brief moment at Nationals. It's really a shame you're missing something so special.
 
There were many bowlers I talked to who are not part of the 1%. They couldn't wait to experience the challenge of bowling on one of the tougher conditions you'll find. Like most of us, they have no illusions of finishing near the top. But they're competitors, and wanted to to measure their true ability.
 
It's sad that you don't appreciate what that means.

Sounds really special...changing squad times so the super stars can have 4 lane courtesy

 
I don't condone changing squad times to accommodate "super stars". The USBC should make it clear in the squad room that it's one lane courtesy, and unnecessary delays will not be tolerated. As Luke pointed out, it shouldn't take more than 3 hours to bowl team. I don't understand why they're backing off on enforcement.
 
Still, it isn't the end of the world that later squad times are slightly changing. I can't see where anyone is going to miss a flight over this. It's annoying, but certainly not "melt down" worthy. 
 
The tournament remains special. Nothing changes regarding that.

What should the penalty be if you are slow?

Right now it sounds like you will be tagged as slow and assigned to late squads in future years where you might not slow another squad down.

If you are late and no breakdown caused it should there be some penalty for that tournament?

Being tagged and banished to a late squad in the following year seems appropriate. Realistically, punishment in the current year would probably be impractical.