A 9 AM start time might be better for some, but not so much for others.
Some of us Eastern Division members have a six hour drive to get to the show. By starting at noon, we can leave at a reasonable time on thursday morning and get there in time for the show's opening.
While probably the most popular hall for folks participating on this board, the York train meet isn't all about the commerical dealers who can set up on Wednesday.
Folks tend to focus on the show starting at noon on thursday. But there was another major change made to the show. When the Eastern Division added thursday, they also eliminated the shotgun start. For thos unfamilar with the term, under a shotgun start, the tableholders were not allowed to set up their tables before the doors opened. They could only drop off their closed boxes. When the show opened everybody rushed in at the same time, tableholders and sellers. The buyers could see the tableholders goods as they unpacked. Tableholders couldn't sneek a glace at what other tableholders had for sale.
The practice (shotgun start) did create some minor chaos, but it also added a great deal to the excitement of the show.
Personally, I like the relaxed atmosphere of the meet on thursdays at noon. Some of my buddies miss the shotgun start.