[Nemo]

I like the draft option, and I bet the FIRST community would be able to do a good chunk of the technical work. If creating a new system isn't a good option, it's possible to quickly improve the existing system in the following ways:

1) Point values that more accurately reflect the value and utility of items (this would have solved a lot of the problem by itself... example, classmate computer costs 100 points - automatically it becomes more of a decision and less of a race)
2) Fewer points available in the early round of shopping
3) Passwords given out early for people to test; add credits to accounts to "go live"

That still doesn't eliminate the time crunch element of this process, though, and I agree that it would be highly desirable to fix that problem.

I'll say this again: I really like the concept of more choice in the Kit of Parts, so I hope this trend can continue in the future despite the problems we've experienced this year.