As a fan I can understand the reasoning, but not having an audience has been noted as a negative thing by many, many idols since the pandemic began. I’m sure there are a few who might prefer not having audiences, but the vast majority definitely want them and I’ve heard quite a few say so in livestreams/interviews/etc. Also personally I can’t stand watching encore/winner performances without an audience. I’m not particularly a Pentagon fan but I felt so bad for those guys when they had to have their first win—something they waited four years for—in front of an almost empty studio where the only audience members were staff members who just wanted to end the show and go home.

While I do think there are some benefits to not having audiences for the viewers, they definitely don’t outweigh how shitty the whole situation is for the performers themselves, personally.