One solution might be to not have the team that secured promotion play the playoffs and give that spot to another team, but that would be difficult to implement.
For an hypothetical financial gain once upon a time, I wouldn't want to not have a chance at a title, be it of a lower division.
Also, those auto-promotion spots can benefit to other teams if the ones above them do win their division.
I think we are making too much out of it.
Definitely agreed. I really don't care about a couple of hundred Ks, I want that trophy in my trophy case (preferably gold, but silver is better than nothing).