This is the NRL's MO these days, float an idea, gauge public interest and make the necessary changes. I can actually see this happening over the next five years, they just won't split the tables. What may end up happening is that they'll expand the finals system to fit 10 teams so there aren't as many 'dead' games. That may not happen right away, but I can see an incident where a 'fan favourite' like Newcastle or Wests will miss out and they'll argue it was because of the uneven conference.
I don't think V'landys is going to be around that long. I think by that point in time we're going to look back at how crazy V'landys ball was and there's going to be an outcry namely from Sydney fans about how much of a visionary he was.