Over 20% of Clinton's votes came from just 2 states: California and New York. Without them she would have lost the popular vote by over 3 million votes. You highlight 14 states that get more attention than the others because they come first, but votes in other states still matter greatly. With a straight popular vote you would have major population centers deciding the elections, and rural Americans being ignored, resulting in a situation of classes kind of like in the Hunger Games.