i think i heard something similar, i think thats a stupid rule especially this close to so many big games (not just for us but the fixture list through out the league over christmas has some must win match ups in it)
Setanta and Blue Square are putting money into the Conference which was not there before (Sky did the odd match but it really was a very rare happening and generally was more slanted toward the big clubs than the Setanta deal everyone is moaning about.
The Old Conference Cup (which I recall had about 5 names in it's last season due to people going bust etc), the equivalent of the Setanta Shield was regarded in the same way as the big Premiership sides view the League Cup and was hugely abused with Clubs putting out youth teams etc. as evidenced by the final being attended by about 1200 people and being between Stalybridge and Woking I think.
It is therefore only reasonable for them (Setanta and Blue Square) to expect that Clubs will put out a strong team.
The definition of a strong team is very much of a movable feast so, again it is good sense for a minimum required standard to be set as it has been in this case .
Playing devils advocate (please note that this is not my personal view so don't bite my head off) one could say that a Club with the ability to afford a squad of only 15-20 players shouldn't really be in the Conference National and arguably shouldn't be in the Conference set up at all.
The competition is being played on a Saturday to give supporters the chance to attend matches which time constraints midweek may prevent them doing.
I'm as Alty mad as the next person but the concept espoused that we care about is Alty and not about any other Club or League or about a Competition we are no longer in, in my view makes us poorer people and poorer football fans