The online application submission that I envision would not enter data directly into the USATF database. It would reside elsewhere until the Registrar did the final check, and clicked "Submit".
If we integrated a login process (certainly should), then the measurer's name would never be re-formatted (John as Jonathon, Bill as William, etc). Each measurer's Race Contacts could also be saved, so they would start typing a Race Contact's name, and it would self-populate (with the ability to say "no, that's not the one, or edit the Contact's info).
I complete my applications in Excel right now. Whether I enter the info into Excel, or an online form, makes no difference to me. If I enter it online, I know that what I submit is what will show in the database, unless someone finds some error. We would even program a check for all surface types adding-up to 100%.
We could also turn off the annual application fee, if we wanted to. If we had a $15 per year app fee, and found we did not need additional funding (don't be like the government, and never remove a fee), we could turn it off for a year, or three. The beauty of Web programming is that it is fluid. Changes to the application are made on the Website, and everyone is instantly using the same form.
Good idea, worth more discussion.