[Ed Law]

The difference between 400 teams 8 matches and 360 teams 9 matches is not just each team get one match difference. That does not seem like a lot. However the whole purpose of qualifying round is to bubble up the deserving teams to be alliance captains.

I am neutral on the topic on which teams should be invited to the championship. To me that is not as important. I see both sides of the argument and both are valid. What is important in my viewpoint is to bubble up the deserving teams to be alliance captains so they can pick good robots as their partners and have an awesome and competitive elimination round to make it exciting.

Having 400 teams and 8 matches will not allow only derseving teams to be alliance captains. A weak alliance captain who gets there due to luck of schedule will not be able to put together a competitive alliance and the elimination match will be one sided. 360 teams with 9 matches is still not ideal but is a lot better.

To people who says it is not about the robot and championship is a showcase, celebration or science fair, I have this to say. I have no problem with teams with varying capability at the championship. However qualifying round means just that. The best teams should qualify for elimination round. They should be alliance captains. Hence the number of teams and matches per team must allow this to happen. Otherwise, why have qualifying and elimination rounds. We can just all show up and play some friendly matches to showcase and celebrate. And to take it to the extreme, why even bother to keep score!