Here's my opinion on the new EE System:
Yes CRS is a tool to further rank profiles already qualified under one of the 3 key economic programs, something which the older FSW system failed to do. All it adhered to was FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, provided you have fulfilled the 67/100 points requirement.
I don't really think it would be pragmatic on CIC's approach to only use CRS as a qualifying benchmark to issue ITAs. The 600 additional points if one has a PNP Nomination or a Job Offer with LMIA is a tool to expedite qualifying candidates who can start contributing to their economy from day one.
However, how about professions where licensing is mandatory? The chances for PNP are anyways trivial for obvious reasons for them, and how can employers offer them jobs without they having license, for example: Physicians, Engineers, Physios, Nurses, etc.
In my opinion, a more logical approach to issuing ITAs would be either of the following:
Release specifics before every draw stating what all occupations would be considered in a given draw (based on the labor market feedback) and establish sub-caps under every occupation.
Or they could make it an open pool but establishing a specific cap for every occupation code
Someone had mentioned before that CIC promised they would move away from the cap system so its not plausible for them to dictate any occupation list or caps. In response to that, yes, everyone is eligible to enter Express Entry Pool, but given how dynamic and volatile job market is, they have full right to control the specifics of the DRAW. They never said that they won't have any occupation list or caps for DRAWS, did they?
While I do believe the initial draw(s) would be based on CRS scores strictly, I do think every subsequent draw would act like an independent FSW program of the past (where they may have NOCs they would be targetting with individual cap). Draws without any preceding announcement would merely consider CRS scores. Whole point of introducing Express Entry system is not to do away with the NOCs, but to introduce much needed flexibility.
Imagine, in the beginning of the year, they highlight need for engineers and 6 months down, recession strikes and industry faces a slump, they couldn't alter anything in the previous system. With express entry, every draw presents new possibilities.
Again, these is my personal opinion arrived at by own experiences/calculations. Lets see what lies ahead.