Indeed they don't have the money but many don't choose to go to games against the teams we generally compete against for league placings etc but do turn up for old firm games who are not our competition so I don't really agree with that. It would seem hatred of the OF brings the crowd out more than the promise of a competitive game. If the general standard of play improved then we would, I am sure, see bigger crowds.
I don't think that going to a 10 team league will do anything in the long run except cause an even further erosion of crowd numbers due to fan boredom in playing the same teams over and over again meaning less revenue meaning the fiscal reasoning you are applying to this will be a moot point in a few seasons. I also see that going to a 16 or 18 team league would be financial suicide so that can't be done either.
Either way I don't think that this change of numbers will have a big if any, impact and the only thing that will is a competitive league with a good standard of fitba being played week in week out. Anything else is just skirting round the major issue that affects scottish fitba at this point in time.