I'm pretty sad about this rule. I know that FIRST is getting pretty big and I understand they had to do something about cutting down the nationals, but couldn't they have found another way that does not exclude so many good teams? Maybe like the top 10 from every regional or something, or top 15, whatever fits the numbers.
I guess it wouldnt bother me so much if it was always this way, but every year I look forward to going to the competition and now it's my senior year and we might not go.
Also I think this rule favors the teams with more money (as does everything else). Being sponsored by the navy we have to fundraise most of our budget because they can't support us financially at all. Due to this we can't afford to go to as many regionals as some of the other teams who are going to over five to improve thier chances of making nationals.
I don't understand why they can't just split the nationals into two, east coast and west coast or something. Yes, I know money is a big factor, but when you've got so many people wanting to go so badly it should not be that hard to find.
All I know is that I'm going to miss all the excitement of the nationals this year and I know I'm not alone. If anything can be done to fix this every other year situation then hopefully it will be implimented soon.