This year, the USATF changed to only have one standard for Nationals, and they decided to have a "B" standard (time-wise). In terms of distance events, It doesn't help the improvement of US distance running to make the standards so relaxed: the 1500m is only 3:45, the 5000m is 13:52 and the 10,000m is 29:01 (I focused on distance events because that is what I know and that is where the US is lacking in competitiveness). If the USA (specifically American-born athletes) wants to be more competitive on the world stage, it can't be so easy to qualify for our national meet. I believe in the development of mid-level runners but they don't belong in the national championship until they can improve to that level.
In my opinion, with a slow standard you end up with unnecessary competitors clogging up heats and finals. With a faster standard, you still have plenty of people to race (On Seed Sheets: 23 people under 3:42, 29 under 13:42, and 27 under 28:40) and it is harder to fake your way into the meet, giving the meet higher quality and making the races more exciting.
It would be smarter to enforce an "A" Standard; it would force people to work harder to get their standards and if they can't push themselves to get to that level, they don't deserve the opportunity to represent the US. USATF, with the goal of improving US and American-born competitiveness on an INTERNATIONAL stage in distance events, should encourage tougher standards.