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Prior to 1975, and for the first five decades of the NFL, there was no seeding. The NFL alternated home field sites without regard to regular season record. So, it hasn't always been this way -- seeding is simply a fairer way of doing things.
One way to make it even fairer would be to seed based on record. I have no problem granting automatic placement for division winners, but what did the Chargers (to use a less incendiary example) do to deserve hosting the Colts this year? They won in a very weak division, while the Colts finished runner-up to the top seed in the conference. Should the Colts be penalized simply because they played in a tougher division? I don't think so.
I'll tell you why. Because the NFL gives more hope to it's fans that their team could make the playoffs, no matter how bad the year before, than any other sports league. And, now examples are abounding, once in, anything can happen. Let's take the Lions for example. They don't have to think about hopping over 10 teams to get a home playoff game next year. They only have to hop over 3. Much more doable. Which makes the division games paramount.
They'd be nuts to get rid of the current format.