Motor City Strider,
Don't you know that replying to yourself using a different handle is somewhat discouraged here?! In any event, it is too late to save face.
If your letter to the sponsors were to say something like, "The Detroit Marathon was great! Everyone I know respects and appreciates all you have done to make it a success. Because of this thoughtful expression of Goodwill towards your sponsorship of our local race, many of us are switching to your business and we encourage our friends to do likewise. Seeing as this is a win-win situation, we see that you could even make it more beneficial for all of us... blah blah blah more money please...blah blah smooch smooch." Then, this would be OK, and maybe even good. But, if you are going to gripe and complain about mismanagement and how this race sucked, then watch the dollars go buh-bye!
As for the treatment of elites. Puhleeze... who was ever more of a road-whore than Kurtis? Methinks that perhaps he would know a thing or two about pampering. Regardless, it all comes down to $$. If you offer a big enough purse (& appropriate award structure), so that it is likely that the Verrans, Jurcevich's, Bakers, Shays, etc. are going to get some nice coin, you will get some good runners there (even though the burnt-out, potholed city itself sucks).
I bet that current race management (no matter your beef with them) probably has the same goals as you towards making it a better race. So, take your criticisms and alternative solutions to them.
I don't know why I am wasting my time, though, I already see the Motor City Striders as a group of whiners who choose to take away from our sport to make them feel vindicated for their petty complaints. Good job, Lifer.