Here's how you can make the FA Cup competitive again....
Depending upon where you finish in the competition:
Winners get 4 points for their League season
Finalists get 3 points for their League season
Semi-finalists get 2 points for their League season
Quarter-finalists get 1 point for their...
The FA Cup was not helped by the face that from 1991 onwards, there wasn't a memorable final match for a long, long time. Arguably, the West Ham v Liverpool final in 2006 was the first 'classic' final since 1990.
2000.
Not really sure it was pivotal. It was Manchester United's name that was more sullied than that of the FA Cup. If I remember correctly, lots of supporters rallied behind the competition in response to United's withdrawal.