Honestly, I get and kinda like the concept of sprint weekends as an occasional shakeup to the regular format, but the way its currently done is absolutely not it. Its a mini grand Prix without the excitement, however if they can figure out an alternative format that keeps it exciting and make it worth for the drivers, I think they can find great success in that.

If there was something else spicing up the sprint, it could be worthwhile to watch. Having tires with very high degradation could be an idea, pit stops aren't obligatory but for sure you'd want one

So with a reverse grid from qualifying, how do you get drivers to push their hardest in qualifying?

If you can solve that, then Monaco might actually be interesting to watch (if the GP race is reverse grid).

Maybe the sprint is effectively qualifying for the GP; the finishing order from the sprint is reversed for the GP race?

Since points are awarded for the sprint, there's incentive to finish in the top 8, even if that means you start farther back in the GP.

This messes up parc ferme going into the GP, but if they have to keep these sprints, I agree with your approach.