For 955, Ri3D is used to validate concepts that have gone to prototyping. Our inital design phase is completed in 3 days, so we are usually independent of Ri3D. We really liked Ri3D, because it presented weaknesses with packaging and also early validation data. As an example, our team chose to package our catapult and intake on opposite ends of the robot to eliminate the rock that Team 1.0 had. Initally, we didn't follow BuildBlitz at all, but we found the cam gear through that channel which is a brilliant mechanism to use with our catapult.
Overall, Ri3D provides good validation data and helps show early problems with specific designs, saving us time and money.
I do have a gripe with Buildblitz though, both robots on there could win regionals without any additional iterations. They are refined bots, and I think they possesed qualities that the Ri3D teams lacked, and qualities that many teams lack, which is polish. The Buildblitz robots are pressed out, they can do everything well and if a team possesses the knowhow or the money, they could re-manufacture the robot with ease. My point here is that the Buildblitz robots are too refined, and they could have too much influence on the sport.
Obviously recreating these robots is another challenge
Sorry if I rambled a bit, it's late
