Making them harder to do only makes Foxy's point more relevant (which I completely agree with). Miss one barrel roll when you're going for a top time and you may as well restart.

As for being able to do it anywhere and cost more energy, that would make a current problem much, much worse. I'm just mopping up the last of the golds in Pulse (have 5 left). Now I should point out that I'm not the greatest WO player by a long shot. But on those Phantom tournaments, there are pretty much only two outcomes in each race for me - 1st, or eliminated. If I survive, I'm usually way ahead of the pack. So it's not about racing in those ones. It's just about being lucky to survive.

If you make the boost/shield available anywhere, that would mean that would pretty much always be the case. It's do or die. 1st or eliminated.

Personally, I don't think that's fun.