[billbo911]

As in every year, the rules are the rules.
Not once have we been required to like them. We are only required to follow them. If you aren't willing to follow them, then why have them at all?

Quite often teams take the rules and use them to their advantage, sometimes the advantage(s) are overlooked and missed. Sometimes they are exploited. One perfect example of both this year is the tethered robot and tethered ramp.

Here is how I describe the rules to my students when they start complaining about them. When company "A" approaches company "B" to have "B" design and build a widget for them, "A" provides the design parameters. Now "B" can follow the design parameters and build a product that "A" will pay them for. Now if "B" doesn't like the parameters, "B" can choose to not build according to them and thus not be paid by "A" and not gain the profits that could have been made.

Play by the rules. Exploit them if you can, but play honestly and fairly.

Nobody ever said you had to like it.