As someone who stopped playing poker last year after 16 years, I will make a few observations. I hope they are not considered too negative but for a start I will give the reasons I have never played an APAT event. A seat is not guaranteed unless you reserve one in advance, and then the reserve deposit is lost, not considered part of the buy in.
I love the old games rather than NLHE all the time, in fact I came to hate the game. So for me there would never be enough stud and omaha type games to make it worthwhile a few days overnight stay to play the APAT. The only place that now does those games is the WSOP - perhaps a trip to the WSOP if ever I get off my arse and inspired enough to play again and donk off £10-15k. I know that's a lot more than a few quid to reserve an APAT seat but I consider that deposit money being lost to be a bit of an insult.
The APAT was sometimes tempting but it just never had enough of those alternative games (not the dreaded open face thing) to break through my increasing apathy. APAT is a very commendable thing, and I hope you keep going, but I also hope you broaden the appeal with a few more stud or omaha type games, not fewer. I know that's the way it's gone, and that's the way it will keep going. God I hate holdem.