Let me restructure this arguement:
1. Nowhere in the rules on bumpers does it even mention tape
2. When asked in the Q&A, the GDC ruled that tape was illegal to hold the pool noodles to the plywood
3. Based on 1 and 2, the argument is that anything not white-listed in the bumper rules is also illegal for bumpers
4. Based on 3, staples are therefore illegal
5. Expanding the interpretation in number 3, anything not white-listed in the entire rules is illegal
6. Based on 5, general materials such as plastic, wood, aluminum, etc are illegal.
I think we all can agree that number 6 is false, but also realize that number 2 is fact. Based on only what we know, number 3 must behave like number 2, as they are in the exact same situation. (reminds me of
this quote)
But who is to say that the bumper rules are special? They are just one of many sub-sections of rules under main section ROBOT, how could we expect the others to be governed differently? But again, we run into the common agreement that number 6 is false.
The problem is where to draw the line, which was made controversially blurry by number 2