[Chris is me]

One thing to consider is the context in which the motor rules of 2012, and then later 2013 came about.

In 2011, you were allowed 4 CIMs, 1 FP, 4 BB, 4 Window, and that's about it. This essentially forced teams to use Banebots motors. I'm pretty sure the FPs sold out that year? This was also the year with defective 775s, 2+ week lead times from Banebots, and generally poor service. People didn't like that we were all but forced to go through one supplier.

So in 2012, more options were introduced. We were allowed 4 CIMs, 2 FPs, 4 Banebots, 4 AM motors, 4 Window, past KoP motors, and there was this weird deal with auto junkyards no one used. The intent wasn't to increase available power to teams as much as it was to not force them to use a particular supplier for their "medium power" 200ish watt motors.

In 2013, Vex began making FRC mechanical parts, so the MiniCIM / BAG were added in a similar manner to other motors: you got up to 4 of them. I suspect climbing motivated the use of 6 CIMs. I assume the GDC saw teams using 6 CIMs without climbing, didn't see drivetrains destroying other drivetrains much, and decided it wouldn't be a bad thing for 2014 either.

Basically, I'm contesting the assumption that the GDC opening up the motor rules is about them wanting us to have more mechanical power. I think they just want us to have options as to how we drive mechanisms. In the spirit of that, a power limit would keep these options open but limit the overall power . Not saying I support or oppose it, but that's one solution to the problem without backpedaling on why I feel these changes were made in the first place.