It's quite simple. What judges look for is which couples have had lessons with them. Unfortunately there are many that look for the couples that have contributed to their wages in some way.
Dancesport competitors need to be great politicians paying like senators vast monies for campaigns to even get a look in. Some adgjudicators are fair and I suppose as unbiased as they can be. But too many accounts of both past and present competitors prove the corruption that is sickingly prevalent in this arena. The corrupt judges maintain it and the fair judges just accept it. Why would they question an established system that pays their wages. Real life accounts, personal experience even supposed private conversations overheard between prominent judges and students regarding results of future comps not even danced yet, has convinced this dancer that competitive ballroom is at its creative end.
Bottom line. People who can afford the inflated prices of these prominent teachers/adjudicators will be marked into finals. Couples who make the finals are talented, skilled and probably work very hard. Do the best get through or even win? Hmmmmm. Money over skill. Influence over talent.
We might as well consider running for office. It's starting to smell like politics more and more. Shame, because ballroom dancing is rich both in its history and diversity.