They need to make it easier in some way for sure, because having 1 finisher ever is really unsatisfying; it makes the show just seem like they're saying "hey we're super cheap and don't want to lose $1 million, so let's make this basically impossible, lol".

I'm not saying it should be so easy that everyone can do it...but when you consistently have less than 2-3 of guys make it through stage 2 of the finals, and nearly never anyone get past 3, let alone 4...clearly your course is busted/too difficult. If it's too difficult for the very best, something is wrong. The fact that 2 people made it to 4 a few years ago and none before or since makes me think that year something about the course was just inherently easier, and they should go back to that.

I think we should regularly be seeing the dozen best making it to stage 3, and the top 3-5 making it to 4 and duking it out for the best time for the million; and they need to change the course to reflect that. I think wing-nut alley needs to have the nuts a bit closer, it's too punishing to anyone that's over 150 lbs to get through it at that distance...or maybe as you said, increase the time limit, or get rid of it, so people can catch their breathe to better attempt it.

No one ever winning it is extremely unsatisfying...and that show makes so much money being prime-time, they can afford the $1mil hit yearly.