[Garret]

Well in the case of my team this adds additional cost that could have and should have been avoided. If FIRST is requiring some teams to buy the same parts while others who have FTC teams don't have to, inorder to compete in this years game then this minibot competition is not fair at all. There are no FTC teams associated with my team or even in our area, meaning we have to buy the parts, and well frankly we think we support FIRST enough with our FLL programs, I don't see a need for us to invest in FTC just so FIRST can promote its own program, they should at least allow them to use VEX or be a little less restrictive, cause I mean seriously they are basically saying teams that have FTC counterparts are getting a bonus, where as teams with Vex counterparts or that run lego teams, are at a significant disadvantage, and not to mention the fact that the parts are expensive.
I am frankly afraid to use anything other than Tectrix, because I don't know if they will make rules against using non-tectrix parts.
I apologize for the rant but I am frankly frustrated that they are forcing FTC upon FIRST teams if they want to be competitive, and because of the restrictions imposed its pretty obvious that this is simply to promote FTC. But that's how I see it.... Again sorry for the rant.