I would love a brief discussion on NBDs. If for no other reason than to remind the new folks about the whitepaper out there.
Also, a drivetrain discussion probably should include a mention of
"The Kit-Bot on Steriods". Simbots do such a great job with their resources, and a few really good teams in Michigan have apparently taken this to heart and have been doing quite well with the philosophy. With so many great COTS components available today, Custom is only better if your goal is to be custom, or you develop it into a "better" solution which is a lot of resource. If your goal is on field performance remember, Unicorns are best left for fables and tall tales. Thoroughbreds require a lot of work and excellent breeding to truly perform. Camels, Mules, and elephants have historically gotten the job done.