[jman4747]

One problem I see in this conversation is the assumption that most tank drives any given mecanum drive may be up against are all always well done. People seem to also judge said mecanum poorly based on pushing matches, why? Whoever said a mecanum was for pushing?

The advantage is strafing and maneuverability for a team that wants more dynamic offensive play and less predictable maneuvering. If you want that plus pushing power then you go for swerve if you have time, money, people for that. If your strategy doesn't need any of that then tank.

And for all you who denounce mecanum without ever driving one in fall 2011 before our team had started its' first season we were allowed to drive anther teams robot from that year in an off season competition. Despite no field-centric or PID nonsense we absolutely were able to push and deflect other robots, TANK drive robots. So in the right circumstances a rookie driver and overall FIRST rookie has actually done what you are all arguing about.