[pimathbrainiac]

The thing is that with the bin (and no noodle), it effectively makes each gray tote worth 6 points. It doesn't really matter how high the individual stacks are. It matters how many bins you put on the stacks. So if you get all 7 bins you can get on as tall stacks as you can get and still get all 7 bins on, you get a really high score, but that is highly improbable if not impossible. My thoughts are stacks of 2 - 3 totes and a recycle bin (with or without the noodle, your choice, your robot) will maximize efficiency and eventually points. If you have 4 stacks of 2 totes and a recycle bin, you get 12 points per stack, or 48 points (not including the noodle), which is a feasible amount within the time limit. If you have a stack of 4 totes and a recycle bin, you might get two complete stacks in, but the added challenge and pressure of having taller stacks means more mistakes can be made and more time can be lost. If you have two stacks of 4 totes, and only one bin on one stack, you get 32 points, significantly less than the smaller, easier stacks with bins on them.

And those are my two cents.