I mean this is essentially how it works now but it didn't have to end up this way in the US. As-written we actually have a very nice electoral college where the people don't directly elect the president but instead choose someone (hopefully?) qualified to evaluate the candidates and vote on their behalf. And the states have the freedom to impose requirements on the elector nomination process so you get qualified people.

But a consequence of the states being able to independently decide how those electors are chosen lead to every state basically having a law that says that "you vote for the candidate instead of the elector, and the elector's don't actually matter and must follow the popular vote."

I really dislike the system as it exists now because the people directly electing 2/3 of the government in a checks and balances system kinda ruins the whole thing.