While insightful, nothing said here is official, other than quoting official rules.
Other that the Competition Manual, your team should be monitoring (at a minimum) the FIRST Q&A, Bills Blog, the updates, and the email blasts. Links below:
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nt.aspx?id=452
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nt.aspx?id=456
http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nt.aspx?id=450
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...starchive.aspx