Would it be a big deal to have longer rallies, but maybe smaller season, 6-8 rounds? Manufacturers look for any reason not to join a series, or get out of one. I'm not certain of the exact changes being proposed for the WRC, but I get an impression it breaks away from "proper" rallying. If this is the case, then it'll just lead to a further deterioration of the series.

From what I see here with V8supercars. Whenever a series fiddles around with it's sporting regs, in an attempt to generate more interest from tv, it just leads to less interest from tv down the track. Sometimes, you just have to accept where you're at. Off-road motorsport is a smaller industry than circuit racing. While the WRC is of equal value to F1 (if not, more) as a driving competition. It doesn't have the natural advantages F1 has commercially. You can't make a plant grow from a rock.