In the UK we always run simultaneous groups even in small comps, stuff doesn't get mixed up because it's just left and right stage and the runners would never have to cross to the other stage so cubes don't get mixed.
Scrambles are generated the way they are because they are (effectively, barring states requiring very few moves to solve) random state. To do what you're suggesting would require scrambles to be filtered to a given optimal movecount. If by fair scrambles you mean that we don't allow sub 20...
I personally think the suspense generated by the fact that you have to flip the clock to check if it's solved is one of the best parts about the event, probably the only event other than I guess blind or maybe FMC where something like this can happen. Also, clock is such a unique event in how...
Almost sub-8!!
I would say I global ~mid 8 now with 5-look; I'm still practicing 3-look, I have a comp in about 2 weeks but I don't think I'll be able to 1-look OBL by then, but hopefully I can finally get a sub-9 average.