I think it's both a good and a bad thing.

It's a way out of monolithic "semi-official" interpretations. You are not trained to interpret, so you have, in theory, the need to use your brain to come up with an interpretation.

At the same time, the fact that they're without degrees and the huge weight of traditions, especially in the Gulf, would probably bias interpretations towards something retard anyway.

Best would be, remove that sharia degree thing, and have jurists/docs/engineers/businesmen/any-skilled-person become imam provided they know enough Quran for example.

I'm not even Muslim. Can I become an imam if I memorize the Qur'an?

I think there should be some sort of training. They don't need to give official interpretation - even the basic theories of interpretation as developed in Islam's rich intellectual heritage would work, and probably be better.

even the basic theories of interpretation

Re-inventing those would be a good thing. Wipe the slates clean and start afresh.

Dear SD,

One question: Who gives the Friday sermon?

If muezzins & imams have nothing else to do than the call to prayer and leading prayer, then they don't need any education. (On the other hand, in that case any Muslim could do the job.)

However, if they also act as sermon-givers (or whatever the word for the job is) and/or spiritual guides for their respective communities ... then it's a totally different story.

--MSK