It’s the whole game aspect of it that I don’t love.
Unfortunately what’s best for the student – having options, being awarded merit – and what’s best for the school – not under- or over-shooting their capacity, keeping yield high – are in direct conflict.
Not really seeing a resolution for that unless ED just goes away.
D22 opted not to ED anywhere because she liked several of her options, and she was hoping for some (unlikely) merit. I’m still annoyed at her experience with Tulane – applied EA, deferred (not before receiving a dozen emails asking her to switch her application to ED), then wait-listed in the regular pool. She really liked the school, but she declined the wait-list spot and moved on.
And it all worked out, so maybe the universe just knows better.