I was thinking color coded badges.  Blue badges get to go in Thursday 10-12, Friday 12-2, Saturday 2-4, and whatever on Sunday.

I would prefer the ticketed approach, similar to the one that's been used for the arcade and console rooms in the past. That way, people can grab tickets whenever they need or want to.

They could also just manage it the way most stores have done during the pandemic; monitor entrants, cap at capacity, then let people in as others exit. I think I would like this in combination with a ticketed system. So you would have a guaranteed reservation time when you would get to go in for a bit, but still be able to wait in line to come in later if you wanted.

I think by September, there will be no limitations on exhibit hall but we'll see
 

Well, no limitations on people.  YOU still have the limitation on HOW MUCH you can buy, based on "DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH DOSH!

True, but only up to a point; I was initially horrified to read that, but it does say their plan is to only treat it as a ticketed event for the first few hours of each day, so you can presumably(?) still go without an event ticket later in the day.  Or maybe they are saying the event tickets are like three time slots: "10-11, 11-12, 12-6."  Though that sounds strange on its face so maybe not.

"Timed entry to the exhibit hall during the busiest times"

And:

"With regards to exhibit hall timed entry, we expect to regulate entrance up until noon of each day and then to open the halls fully until closing for the day. Entries will be made available via our event ticketing system..."

There's two possible ways of interpreting that, that I can see:

1. There will be tickets all day, but the number of people inside will also be limited until noon; after that, any number of ticketed people can be in there
2. Tickets will only be required until noon (since the mornings are typically the "mad rush" times), after which it's pretty much open season

I can't say for sure which of those is the correct interpretation, but they said more details will be available eventually.

Good point, it could be "tickets + first-come first-serve until 12" or something, in the first scenario.

From how I read it, its more "Tickets up till noon, then open to all after"

Why not just have it be a zero cost ticketed 1 hr event?

I suppose it would be possible to make it a ticketed 45 minute event, clear everybody out at 10:45, then let the next wave in. I hope that's not how they go, but it might be somewhat doable. 

As to the quality of the exhibitor hall we don't know.  Paizo and CMON have stated that they will not have a physical presence this year and I would guess that if the CO-Sponsors of Gen Con are not going to be there many other companies will decide to skip this year as well.

Chair & Bullwhipcon 2K21!

My only concern with ticketed/timed entry into the exhibit hall is that if reserving a ticket is the usual ticketing free-for-all, then the people who only have one-day badges could lose out on opportunities to enter the hall to someone with a 4-day badge who happens to be faster at getting a ticket.

If GenCon's going to restrict access to the hall, then the people who only have single-day badges need to be given priority on their days, especially since it seems like GenCon is encouraging single-day badges/single-day attendance this year in order to allow the most people to attend while still keeping daily capacity lower.