They aren't really debates in the normal sense anyway. Someone gets asked a question. They get a minute or so to regurgitate their canned answer. The other participants get a shorter period to give their stock response. And it's on to the next question. There is no give-and-take between opponents, and you could replace the whole thing with a reel of campaign commercials and the candidates would probably come off looking better.
Exactly. I think the whole thing is pointless, and Trump is wise to ignore it.