It's got little to do with fairness ...
If the RFL had known then what it knows now, it would have put them in the Championship and expand the division.
The reason it didn't is that the last thing it wants with their expansionism is failure.
Putting teams in our division is a win/win situation.
Putting them in the Championship COULD result in failure (very unlikely, since the RFL aren't gonna let numpties into that division) but possible ... not good!
The RFL have said it welcomes money men to come and give it a go.
All they have to do is change the rules the season before as soon as they get the application and they can put them anywhere straight into Superleague if they want as long as nobody is pushed out.
They can and do what they want.
The mystery is why clubs stand for it.