The reason there are no fringe players anymore is the festival/Sidmouth is just too exspensive too attend. Even taking out the ticket price I know as a local every bussiness put's a little premium on everything over that week. Compare this to Dartmoor festival where a pint costs £2.50 and a burger is a couple quid.
I personally think its on way too long as well and due to this the festival just kind of fizzles out midweek. On the first weekend we sat in sessions till 2am but by Wedenesday sessions were packing up at 9.30pm. I really think a 4 day long weekend would be the way to go as the comments on here are correct the crowd is generally 50 plus and a week is too long. This would also keep that energy level up which is lacking. I know a few people on here will say "oh I had a good time all week" but it definately dies mid week. I even spotted the organiser playing putting on the Thursday so he had lost interest as well.