Ummm, perhaps your standards are way too high. There were only 49 99.95 ATARs this year, in which 12 of them were snatched up by Ruse, which only leaves another 37 left... You're telling me that another 750+ schools in this state are crap? ... :\.
Yes unfortunately that is the case. Did you know most schools don't even finish the Extension 2 Mathematics course before the HSC? And then everyone complains about students going to tutors. Its like they want us to fail. If you went to an average comprehensive high school and aimed for a 99+ ATAR you would be severely disadvantaged. The quality of work that the teachers provide will only challenge the dropkicks of the class, whilst the serious ones waste their time with boring work and find they are unable to compete with students at selective schools in the HSC. Furthermore the easier discipline means better teachers opt for Selective Schools in suburban or inner-city areas. This means all the terrible teachers are teaching the worst students in the state.
In the current system high-achieving students are severely disadvantaged. The HSC is not a fair game. The ones who go to comprehensive high schools are disadvantaged by relatively worse teaching, less funds, disruptive classes full of disrespectful students and they are not as informed by their schools as selective school students who are taught to maximise their chances of scholarships, university offers and ATAR. It is a truly unfair system spawned by socioeconomic status and a culture that promotes mediocrity as opposed to real achievement.