[Ameya]

I think the QP rule is a great one. My first year was 2000, and this rule was very helpful in leveling the playing field. In our first round at the Mid-Atlantic Regional, our robot didn't work too well (where too well = at all), and the opposing alliance didn't realize the significance of the rule. We scored 0 points in that round, and so the opposing alliance also received 0 qualifying points. Partially because of this rule, we managed to go from last place at the beginning of the qualifiers to 11th seed at the end, and went on the win the regional.
I think the rule adds another level of strategy to the game and makes it far more interesting.