Having read the rationale behind AAC's decision, I think it's pretty much bang on save one small point:
They state that 'Navigating yourself around the course' is an integral point of fell running.
I would say that navigation in itself not the point of a fell race, but that Fell craft/fell'person'ship is most definitely a part of fell running - in middle/long races especially. Of course mountain navigation is a part of fell craft but not the be-all and end-all.

Maybe a focus on people having the required fellcraft to look after themselves on the fell - this IMO takes in to account people packing extra layers if the weather is poor, knowing when to drop out, how to get yourself around the course/off the mountain safely. I feel this is something many people lack.

In a world of instant gratification people are wanting to take on big stuff immediately and not really willing to learn their 'trade' on their short local fell races before going big (especially when the Lakes/Scotland are involved).