Natasha, we won't be able to argue:)))
The tournament is closed for a very simple reason: it's impossible and there's no desire to check whether the participants follow the rules.
Therefore, complete trust in the participants was necessary. Their selection was carried out by direct invitation from the organizers and recommendations from other participants.
Some participants were accepted at their direct request to the tournament organizers.
The discussion of the rules lasted quite a long time, and as a result, a certain compromise solution was reached.
Your decision to play outside the competition, in my opinion, deserves respect. I would even raise the issue more broadly - that you should not participate in the distribution of prize places, but the rating for the result shown would be awarded to you.