>>76293193CrossFit needs to be divided into three areas for any good faith discussions.
Area 1: CrossFit methodology.
The purpose in the training is and always has been general athleticism.
>>76291446 summarizes it pretty well. It isn't intended to give you maximum gains in any stat, just eliminate weaknesses with an extra emphasis on VO2 maxing and functional strength. This is why the first community to heavily get involved with CrossFit were military, law enforcement and fire department people. They mostly train for the same purpose, not for specific professional sports like Football or Bodybuilding.
Area 2: CrossFit HQ
CrossFit is a brand, and it is managed by a corporation. This is where all the petty money related stuff comes from, to include certifications, gym affiliates and The CrossFit Games. Over the years the priorities of CrossFit HQ have changed. From about 2000 to 2010, CrossFit HQ (founded and run by Greg Glassman) primarily pushed the franchise model of gaining local gym affiliates and selling high-dollar certification courses to maximize market size. This started with the aforementioned military/LEO/Fire Dept guys and eventually spread this to normies mostly in America. This focus changed after establishing the CrossFit Games as a competition to draw more normies into the sphere (this was also around the same time that things like Tough Mudders and Spartan Races were getting big).
Glassman actually loathed the CrossFit Games and thought they were annoying to put on, but kept at it because it got attention. He eventually dismantled CrossFit HQ's media team and tried to pivot the company away from the CrossFit Games around 2017, but failed. Glassman got forced out of CrossFit HQ and sold his ownership due to Cancel Culture in 2020.
CrossFit HQ has been managed by Private Equity ever since and has been hemorrhaging membership. It's currently slated to be sold to new owners sometime this year, likely after the 2025 CrossFit Games.