Are you saying that all the winner take all states have changed?? My state (MO) is one.
This does extend the primary period as well as giving candidates the opportunity to become better known.
The additional debates, even those that are run by the idiots at various MSMs, enlist additional exposure to the so-called "second tier" candidates that would have never been given any exposure.
Instead of forcing candidates without mega buck supporters, to drop out (as happened in '08 with McLame) can raise some money to continue.
The establishment didn't necessarily warm up to this rule because they like and expect to pick the candidate "most likely to win" (in their opinion, i.e. Dole & McLame).
More people and more states have the opportunity to be included in the choice.
This is why the "establishment" along with their willing allies in the MSM continue to proclaim various people as "non-electable" and also why people who should know better, to accept that view - sad as those are the same people who loathe the MSM and complain about how "unfair" they are, as well as those knowing that this same group are cheerleaders for Obama and will do everything to destroy the Republican candidate. These people will still accept the premise that only Romney is "electable."