I think NateMartin247 put it best, even though he's a little too obsessed with soccer. *grin*
However, we at 470 noticed a few problems in the design process by having a unanamous vote for everything relating to the design.
We all, mechanical, PR, electrical, etc. took a day to think of basic designs. We took in scoring information and weighted it. Such as stack stealing vs stack smacking vs stack making vs ramp blocking. We decided as a non-issue by the information presented on the aspects we wanted to have.
Then we got into small groups, basically whoever was sitting next to you at the meeting, rolled out a big piece of paper (like in art rooms) and everyone drew their basic designs.
-[ by basic I mean, no measurements, no scale, no motor specs, no pnuematic specs, just conceptualize ]-
We then had a round table discussion letting each group present their idea. Abi's had something to do with a dragon barney breating fire on butterflies.. but that's OK too.
. There was NO saying "That won't work" to an idea. It was 100% listen and think of why it wouldn't work. After the group was done presenting, it was open for direct discussion. Questions pertaining to how sides would mesh together, or how would that rotate?.. basic design flaw questions.
Then ideas were voted on by the group (which was of ZERO mentors). A top 3 were decided, then represented, with a devil's advocate attack at the group who designed it. Trying to etch out all thinkable flaws and improve on them. Our current design is nothing like the round table markings because we took basic ideas and built, pictorally, on them.
This is probably one of the better methods I've seen in the design process. Student designed, student decided.
It's your team, if it effects the team, it should be voted on. I think drivers is a very important decision, especially for a rookie team. Quarrel's can easily start from members not agreeing with mentors. Say, for example, your driver happens to be the son or daughter of one of the parents. I think the group of 6 could decide on a good candidate, but the rest of the team may feel 'so-and-so' is driver because his 'mom' said so.
Anything that makes people calmer and still have a voice is good I think.