[Tristan Lall]

The rationale that they're not listed among the components permitted in bumpers is relatively persuasive, and I'm pretty sure this was specifically ruled illegal in at least a few past years. I suspect it may have been ruled legal at one point as well, but I'm not certain (nor am I going to search for it tonight).

As an inspector I've certainly explained to teams that the zip-ties, strips of tape or beads of adhesive underneath the fabric were not legal given the applicable rules and Q&A guidance. And like Al, I've had little trouble making adequately tight bumpers without resorting to internal fasteners of any kind.

I still think the bumper rules should be fundamentally based on simple tests of performance (with fidelity to a standard design meriting an automatic pass). By that rationale, if the taped bumper was clearly equivalent, there would be no problem. But since FIRST hasn't chosen this route, and given the simplicity of the solution (use removable string or an extra pair of hands while stapling), I don't have much sympathy for teams that are deliberately in violation. Inadvertent violators should probably read the rules more closely, but this would be low on the (long, but shorter than it used to be) list of bumper violations to enforce at inspection.