It is becoming apparent 12 teams is too many, so maybe we go to the smart version all along, 8 teams, 5 conference champs and 3 wild cards. The lowest rated conference champs don't get a home game, but the first round is at home for rest of conference champs. This way everyone deserving is in every year but the last 4 likely will never belong. I will bet the champ comes from the top 3 seeds and the top wild card 90% of the time but one unlikely bounce in an entire does not kill your chances.