I think there's a difference in the rules from when it ran previously.
It says in the link
In other words you have to "play up" in order to be included.All open congresses (or open sections of congresses) rated by the ECF are included with players scoring points based on their results.
That may explain in part why the top sections of multi section events are increasingly acquiring a tail of lower rated players. It may also make it difficult for any organisers tempted to impose a lower rating limit on their top section.
There also used to be a competition in a similar style for places in the British Championship. That had the disadvantage that there was never any publicity on who was doing well as well as the problem that a competition where the results aren't known until 1st July or later is too late to act as a qualifier for an event starting in the same month or very shortly after.
(edit) The rules also mean that the 60 30 FIDE rated Under 2200/2400 tournaments aren't included. For that matter my disappointing 50% at the Torbay Congress will count, whilst Brendan's winning 4.5/5 in the Major won't. (/edit)