is this such a good idea?

an LA times article on california's election reform says:

Voters authorized the two new wrinkles in this year's elections. In 2010 they approved Proposition 14, which requires that all candidates, regardless of party, appear on a single ballot received by all voters. Only the candidates who finish first and second in the June 5 primary will move on to the Nov. 6 general election, all but eliminating the chances of most third-party candidates, who used to be granted a spot on the runoff ballot no matter how poorly they fared in the primary.

In 2008, voters stripped the Legislature of the responsibility for redrawing political boundaries for state Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization seats and gave the job to an independent citizens commission. Two years later, voters added California congressional districts to the commission's task.

(my emphasis)

i'm all in favor of ending the practice of those in power deciding who will (re)elect them,¹ but i'm not sure restricting the general election to just the top two primary candidates is at all well-considered. beyond my usual objections to "open" primaries -- it's my party, dammit, and i'll nominate who i want! -- this seems to entrench the dominance of the two current big parties at the expense of newcomers. why is this desirable?


1: i'd also restrict the similar power of lawyers to decide who will hear the case they want to argue by eliminating peremptory dismissal, the dismissing of potential jurors without cause.