I'm on your side on this one Chip. I know your frustration in showing up legal for the class only to find the rules aren't being enforced. Now you're not interested in going back.
So, they appeased the illegal car and maybe kept him(although he has no real vested interest because he didn't build a car for the class, he just showed up and they let him race).
But the legal car is discouraged. I doubt your the only one. How many were thinking about making some tweaks to their car to try it out, but are now having second thoughts after seeing how it's run?

IMO, one of the easiest ways to discourage current and future participants who were eager to try racing in a series with more guidelines than basic bracket racing is to not enforce the rules.