[Siri]

While I'm not advocating (or insulting) this response, but I will point out that according to the FIRST Choice thread, some orders have already shipped. I suspect this was to ensure AM could ship all 2,600 orders in time. I can't confirm the accuracy of this personally, but if true it does complicate opportunities to change the approach now.

Addition thought -
What I do intend to do, and I know it's not much, is ask FIRST to relax the 2013 BOM accounting rules so that teams can count these as Kit of Parts (free) even though we couldn't actually purchase them this way. I certainly don't look forward to spending the additional several hundred dollars we'll likely have to, and can't imagine the impact it will have on lower-budget teams, but at least we won't also be handicapped on the BOM.