I think Ri3D changed game from the start, with hundreds of teams copying their linear shooter. This lead to a higher scoring success than I would have predicted, leading to the decrement of the top-rung pyramid climb (versus hang). The attachment depicts a render of what my team had originally designed as a do-it-all strategy, climber and all- after our first regional we niched that strategy.
We ditched the 2-CIM corner climber for a buzzer-beater 10pt hanger.
This season taught me that I should design a robot around autonomous. Two frisbees at once, please!
I am surprised how optional the ground pickup was... I thought there would be more, just slow and inefficient, ground pickup robots.
If the ground pickup or climb ain't fast, then lose it. Also, human intakes still require a good design, even if the concept looks simple.
...hopefully that was mostly on topic, as all of the above were mostly unexpected.
