Hard to take the WCC seriously when everyone know Carlsen would have won and just find the whole thing too boring to take part.
Anyways, I don't know who would win in a Carlsen - Ding WCC. Nobody does. If the game statistics are to be believed, then Ding would.
The whole thing is already hard to take seriously usually with the whole wild card thing and the format being criticised by approximately everyone.
Maybe we should take his words at face value and that he really is fed up with the thing.
IMO good for him. He won it all and now he is doing new things with his life.
I think most folks agree that Magnus is the best player in the world, but the WCC was far better with him not in it.