What are your thoughts?

I know of two people with amazing voices who tried out for "American Idol," and neither were picked. Now I understand they can only take so many talented people; however one of my friends observed that some of the people that got to go on through to the final round who were not good only did so that producers could have them on television for ratings meaning that they "beat out" people who actually had enough talent to get to the final round. In addition I know of a well accomplished dancer who tried out for "So You Think You Can Dance" who did not make it because "she didn't look the right age," and it was either her or someone else who did not make it on to one of these shows, because "they didn't have a good enough backstory."
I know I am dragging on, but I feel like this show is the same way at times. I mean I do not watch it regularly, but I do know that two former child actors have been on there, one of them winning, the daughter of one celebrity was a contestant and the relative of another was most recently. Now while I feel like these people do have the talent to compete and win I feel like they were only chosen based on their background and/or connections. It's not fair to those people who do have the talent to be on this show and are passed over because of these things which have nothing to do with talent. This was a long post I know. I just wanted to hear other's opinions and see what you all thought.