I agree with everything you said except “Until there is registration by party in VA, primaries make no sense whatsoever.”
With party affiliation pre-registration you still have the effects of the big-money, corporate, out-of-state special interests on masses of malleable voters, plus the voter fraud factor.
Grassroots-organized precinct-level elected delegates partcipating in the convention system is the only way for the producer-class of citizens to get their country back.
OK .. but please understand that in VA, the state conventions were open to anyone willing to pay a (minimal) registration fee, not locally elected precinct level delegates. The delegates have been self-selected, and that is what is so intimidating to the in-crowd.
Who would locally selected delegates be, if not part of the power structure. I find them more easily intimidated by the powers that be than the rabble who’ll fork over $25 to go to convention for their favored candidate.
It’s been my experience in VA, at the County level broken down by magisterial district, that the same old cronies (oh, and I DO mean “OLD”) sit around at monthly meetings accomplishing not a damned freakin’ thing. But they become buddies and there’s a group think that evolves. One dare NOT say a single thing that might be construed as ‘anti’ a cherished pol. So, ask me ....do I want those folks picking the delegates who pick the nominee at convention? I’ll take the rabble who might or might not have been influenced by advertising.