I think that is why the old spying system won't work. No team will start 100% at the start of the season. I do agree that the spying needs to be toned down. A quick fix is to tone it down now until the attributes are not so reliant on 4(now 5) values.
In the MJL Elite I am a lowly level 13 team racing against higher rated teams (18?). I don't expect to be able to finish 3/4 like I did yesterday. I do expect to be able to spy, use good management, setup, and employ the best staff I can in order to improve over the season to beat level 13-16 teams that don't attend, manage etc.
My worry is that quick fixes are being applied without a thought for the long term. Once a fix is seen to make things worse, rather than rolling back or rethinking the quick fix a new quick fix is added.
TBH, I am happy about the recent fuel fix and some of the other enhancements but I think a 7 day warning should be given. People may have purchased staff based on the current game (spending gold and $) and a quick fix hurts them without them being able to forward plan.