Tournaments in different parts of the country are run in different ways, depending on the standard norms in that area.
It appears that Premier did not specifically mandate every little item to make every qualifier identical to the other... "run it like you would run a tournament in your area"... may have been the whole of the guidance. Which makes sense.
The norm in SoCal might seem very odd in TX or FL or NJ, or yes, even NorCal. By mandating absolute uniformity, they would have opened up a Pandora's box of complaints and ridicule.
From previous threads, it seems the norm in NorCal to charge gate fees, and limit "carry-in" items, even water. These complaints here are the same complaints we always hear about NorCal tournaments in general.
You can argue that Premier should "fix" everything that's "wrong" with tournaments in every region around the country, and that they should do that right out of the gate. But the "fix" they proscribe might seem absurd to the customary practice of that area. Then what? Even more complaints.
For example, the Huntington Beach Sports Complex charges parking fees. If you play there, you pay to park. Simple, and we all know it. Do you pay to park in Stockton? Or Dallas? Atlanta? New Jersey? How about if Premier came along and mandated parking fees, because they are standard at HBSC? Absurd, right? So there you go.
I don't know the economics of holding a tournament in NorCal, but if the economics dictate that gate fees and water limits are necessary, you will have gate fees and water limits. Or no qualifying tournament at all.
Bear in mind that last year, people were screaming about the lack of qualifiers. Now there are qualifiers, and people are screaming because they aren't "better"... which itself is highly subjective.
This is the first year of Premier qualifiers. There are likely a host of issues they will address once the dust has settled after Nationals. But at least they respond to questions and complaints, and address problem areas. In that regard, they are different, and better, than ASA.