It's one of the most obnoxiously brazen decisions that I can recall. Not a single fuck given about the interests of anyone other than a very select few. £33million is buttons relative to the prize money PL clubs get for competing in Europe and, spread thinly, does not replace the 'life-changing' windfall a club might receive off the back of a cup replay - even if it isn't budgeted for. Not to mention the devaluing of the competition itself by binning an aspect that it's so famous for.
Besides, what in God's name does scrapping replays at the 1st and 2nd Round stages have to do with reducing fixture congestion for the rich few?