[Racer26]

I wish I understood why we lost the functionally identical spares caveat to R18.

Once upon a time, (and it wasn't that long ago) there was a distinction between identical spares (for example, a second, identical intake, intended to replace the one on the ROBOT in the bag if it gets demolished in competition), and UPGRADE PARTS. UPGRADE PARTS (something that is similar in function but not an identical spare) were required to be part of the WITHHOLDING ALLOWANCE, while identical spares were allowed in unlimited quantity.

If I wanted to have an identical, spare intake this year, and not have it be part of my withholding allowance, how do I do that? Put it in the bag with the robot? Its not really a part of my robot, until the identical part it is intended to replace fails. Never mind that sticking extra stuff in the bag makes the already-unwieldy thing even harder to move.