[mathking]

For those arguing that extending the build season will make the disparity between the most well funded and least well funded teams smaller, I have to ask "Are you really sure about that?" Yes, being able to make a practice robot is an immense advantage, but is it more of an advantage than being able to attend multiple regional competitions? Will being able to attend more regional competition be an even bigger advantage with the unlimited build season?

My team just completed our 11th season. I would call us a moderately well funded team. We have built a practice robot the past couple years, but this was the first year where we built a fully functional one. (Thank you Denso for the grant!) But before that we were able to build most of a practice robot with the accumulation of spare parts from years of doing FRC. This year was the first in which we could afford to attend a second regional competition. It was an eye opening experience. We had a pretty good robot by the end of the build season, but multiple little issues kept it from really performing well until the elimination rounds at Queen City. But this year we were able to take our now fully functional robot to Buckeye. The advantage of the teams that routinely go to two or three regional competitions will be magnified by an unlimited build season.

I guess my view on this question comes down to asking "Which choice will provide the most benefit?" I know that for my team at least (and I strongly suspect for other teams) the extension of build into the spring will push away more students due to other season commitments than we will gain by spreading out the time commitment. And I feel strongly that an unlimited build cycle will pose an existential threat to more than a few teams who rely on teacher participation. So I think there is a not inconsiderable risk of there being fewer students and fewer teams in FRC if we switch to an unlimited build season.