[artK]

This will not bode well for the future of FIRST if the information we have is close to complete. As of right now, it looks like the Championshplit will be the status quo for the years listed.

By taking the championship, one of the most inspiring things in FIRST, and cutting it in half, they have cut the inspiration in half, then removed sizable fractions from both, since so much inspiration comes from competing against the best. Did they not only remove the C from FR_, but also shrink the I from FiRST?

A number of teams, some of the best teams, go into the build season with the goal: "Win the World Championship". A number of people (myself included) go into the season with this goal. This change creates not only an existential crisis for FIRST HQ, but also for a number of teams (many of whom have spoken today), and these people. I took the year off from FIRST to focus on my studies and the rest of my life, in hopes of returning and achieving greater success with a new team, but with the Championship gone, I may not return at all.