The F1 is a licensed based competition, a better example will be the UCL, top 2 in the UK qualifies, 3rd and 4th goes into the playoff, simillar to us no? They are getting a wild card of which if they played I would bet ya they would be top 6, not good enough a compromise?
Read your post again. "3rd and 4th goes into the playoff" Not a non-entrant, right? It doesn't matter what would happen "IF they played": either anyone can be a wildcard or all wildcard slots are based on Saturday seedings.
Read your post again. "3rd and 4th goes into the playoff" Not a non-entrant, right? It doesn't matter what would happen "IF they played": either anyone can be a wildcard or all wildcard slots are based on Saturday seedings.