NFL Playoff Picture: How much respect should the NFC West get?

The St. Louis Rams currently lead the NFC West with a record of 6-7. Seattle has the same record, and San Francisco is making a push at 5-8. In all likelihood, an 8-8 team will win the NFC West, possibly a 7-9. It ain't a pretty division this season, to be sure. 

As the NFL playoff picture gets a little clearer, hating on the NFC West has become sport among the punditocracy. 

"Change the rules," they cry. "Unfair." Some even call for changing the way it works to keep teams with sloppy records out of the playoffs. Ridiculous. Winning the division is an accomplishment, even one like the NFC West, and a team deserves a playoff berth for it. 

Today, RIch McKay, the co-chair of the NFL Competition Committee and Atlanta Falcons president, joined the calls for reseeding the playoffs based on record, meaning that even division winners could potentially lose the guarantee of at least one home game. 

It seems like a reasonable proposition at first glance. But I want to throw it out for more discussion. Thoughts?