[GBK]

Interesting points. The way I see it FIRST has been discouraging defense for the last few years. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with using defense as part of a strategy. It is also good to see that there are rookie teams that are able to get robots on the field and do something to contribute to the game.

As far as the house analogy, if I am looking for someone to build me a house and you come to me with a plumbing design, I will refer you to the company that gets the contract for the job I am looking for (building my house)

The most important thing in this program is what the students learn and take away from it. I have heard Dean say more than once, If you think you are in a robot competition, you missed the point. (not a direct quote but you know the line) These students are learning things that they do not know they are learning.
I hope that none of them are coming away from the program thinking that that they will be rewarded for not attempting what is presented to them.
How we measure success is very different from team to team and person to person.
There are many teams out there that we all strive to have a portion of the real success that they have achieved. That can only be done by trying, and learning from those teams around us, not only in what they do well, but if we are lucky by learning from their mistakes as well as ours.