I can see all the points you are raising. At the same time, I feel the general status among the beginners (real or false) is that they are shy to compete - I see it at the Prague kendama battles all the time. That being said, we (hereinafter meaning "Maico, Dario and me", unless specified otherwise) believe that the chance of a random juggler picking up a dama at the EJC and actually WANTING to compete after fiddling with the thing for three days is very low. I have suggested a Noob/Rookie list of 6 tricks from the "starter pack", I was shut down. Maybe this issue will be reopened?
We also believe that since this is the EUROPEAN open, not a small local affair, people need to push themselves, and as
@johndmc said, go for the closest more difficult thing compared to their skill level. If people are no longer beginners after going at it for three months, they can join a tougher division - all the better in my view - it will push them and get hyped. Not everybody, of course. Last point, if you travel to EJC with the aim to compete, you have plenty of time to ascertain your skill and practice accordingly.
Every coin has two sides, even
@shalafi 's 2 cent piece

For comparison, here are two tricklists for the joint 2017 Czech and Slovak Kendama Championships (I am not sure, but it will be 1 on 1 knock out in all divisions):
Kids of 10 years and below
1 Velký pohárek (Big cup)
2 Malý pohárek (Small cup)
3 Střední pohárek (Base cup)
4 Svíčka (Candle)
5 Letadlo (Airplane)
6 Napíchnutí (Spike)
7 Swing in
8 Okolo japonska (Around Japan)
9 Okolo světa (Around World)
10 Maják (Lighthouse)
Beginners
1 Swing to candle
2 Around prefecture
3 Orbit
4 Jumping stick
5 Falling
6 Slip on stick
7 Knee bounce to big cup
8 Flying top
9 Earth turn
10 Hanging spike