[SenorZ]

I think it helps a lot. Instead of seeing just the superbots made by the power teams, new teams and low funding teams can see what everybody else is doing with materials at hand.
The 3 Day Robot might have inspired a lot of clones, but the students doing the building were still inspired! And that's the most important part.

A side question: do the power teams like this too? If there are fewer teams DOA during matches it is easier for the we-need-to-go-undefeated teams to get wins/points.