Back to Middle-earth Month

I didn't read the rules in very close detail, but the items you mention would be of concern to me too and something we'd likely modify for our own purposes. Even when we have a game format, the priority is on participating rather than winning (or, it's supposed to be, although that doesn't always come across as well as I'd like :). We'd likely allow the "multiple prompts for one story" rule again too, for the reason that you mention that 500-word ficlets aren't everyone's cuppa, and we want our writers of longer fiction (or creators of more elaborate art/craft pieces!) to feel just as welcome and able to succeed as those specializing in short forms.

I don't know if you've read down to dreamflower's scavenger hunt idea, but that would involve choosing one's own prompts (possibly setting one's own goals as well), without the game format.