[Connor Mulkey]

The politically correct gloves are coming off for this one. I'm sorry, but this is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. This doesn't even deserve constructive criticism, as some have suggested. You're only seeing destructive criticism because there is absolutely nothing defensible about this decision. It has no merits, and I can't help but feel betrayed by having this decision sprung upon me.

When I go to compete at a World Championship, I expect it to be a WORLD (representing all regions) CHAMPIONSHIP (one alliance winning it all by beating the best). I want to compete against ALL of the best teams. Who cares about winning one of these championships when you didn't have to beat 1114, 254, 2056, 67, 987, 118, 33, 469, and the rest of the top tier teams to earn the title? You may have beaten some of them, but you'll never know if your alliance was actually the best. It's extremely disappointing for there not to be only one alliance at the end of the year that can say they rose above all the others.

Anyone in the FIRST organization that thinks this is a good idea clearly does not understand this program or share the same goals as many of the teams that participate in it, and they should not be allowed to hold their position any longer. Making a decision like this is the quickest way to ruin this program, and I don't want to see that happen. This is a time for brutal honesty because they have to understand that this is not acceptable.

Don't be delusional. This is a competition. As a student, I competed to win, and my team's success on a world stage is what inspired me. There's nothing I hate more than calling everyone winners and handing out participation trophies. (Maybe that's their current plan for 2020 and beyond.) To be as blunt as I can be, there are simply not enough highly qualified robots to justify having two world events. There aren't enough championship-caliber teams right now to even justify having 600 teams at the current championship.

I understand this program is growing and must be expanded in order to keep up with that growth. But this is not how you do it. I hope you realize this after seeing how disgusted people are with this decision.