If they wanted them used in standard games, it seems like it would have been simpler to price them for standard games, and not invent two new game modes specifically designed for their use. I don't think the 100 point game is going anywhere, and people who want to play their huge ships more than "rarely, if ever," as you say, will simply flock to Epic play.
Yes, that's the possible meta shift I was talking about. New model comes out, everyone wants it, everyone wants to try it. Local play and tournaments begin to include the new format and more people start playing said format.
It's all theorycrafting, really, but given that people tend to want to pay with the models they buy a rather likely theory.