The point of the accredited investor regulation is to protect unsophisticated investors who don't understand the risk of investing in startups and other unregistered offerings.

These exceptions will let people without a high income or net worth qualify as accredited investors by proving that they have the financial knowledge to understand these risks. For example, anyone can take the Series 65 exam.

It sounds like this could be very helpful in allowing people who are not rich to invest in startups while still protecting people who have no idea what they're doing.