Have a V8, V10 or V12 formula and see how many manufacturers will be interested in joining.
The garagistas will have their say and proclaim F1 doesnt need manufacturers. Well that is a pipe dream.
F1 needs bigger audiences and there are millions of Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Honda fans that will simply turn off if these arent involved.
And before we go down the route of manufacturers leaving on a whim....so do the independent teams.
Even more so than the factory guys.
V6's open the formula to a more competitive frame work. Honda would not be incoming. Nor would there be interest from others in joining.
The sound is just a distraction that will be forgotten about by 2015.