So you don’t think on the pro level we need it. Just watch them run around in shorts at half speed and make a judgement. The CBA has made these camps much softer than what you and I used to see. The NFL already kicks off the season with a the first few games being out of sync and messy.
I will take what I can get for football season.
No, I do not think they need it and don't think the good ones even use it. They have enough information on players and there are so few spots open on most teams that the preseason games exist for one reason, to make the owners additional money because they're not on real games checks yet but they are on full ticket prices, concessions and merch.
What began as "Exhibition Games" in other markets to kick up extra money evolved into the preseason games fleshing out the season ticket package at 10 games and charging the same price for additional profit and if you wanted season tickets, you had no choice and they had no value on the resale front.
Even the 3rd "dress rehearsal" preseason game is a thing of the past and coaches don't want to risk players and every player knows the story of injury settlements to players during the preseason. They're paid professional athletes and they're not playing all out until it gets real.
The reason it's so sloppy to start the season is because they don't give the players enough real game work and the coaches realize the short term memory of owners/GM's when they've lost a key player to the preseason.
I really do not think we'll see a difference because the players realize they don't have any games until it gets real. And they don't have to use valuable time in travel for pretend games and can use that time to get ready.
I am going out on a limb here but I will predict that the consensus of opinion is that the play will look as sharp, if not sharper, with no preseason games. Something the players will love and the owners will not. The coaches and players do not need the preseason, the owners do.