VEX is very cost effective, for the same $5000 fee I can start 3 VEX teams and take them to two events.
For the cost of the robot ($5000) I can start 3 more VEX teams and take them to two events
For the cost of a second regional, I can send the 6 VEX teams to my local state championship ($500 per team) and send one of them to Worlds ($850)
I can have 30 roboteers for the first year for the same money.
In year two, I can only start 4 more teams, but I'm up to 10 teams and sending 2 to worlds. In year two I'm looking at 50 roboteers 25 active parents
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At the FTC and VRC level it is left almost entirely to the school teacher who is already overworked and underpaid.
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Which is the road to fail. Look at groups like the Downingtown VEXMen. 38 teams, 200+ roboteers, 70+ parents, 0 teachers. If I ask an adult who cares more about your child, me, you, the teacher, I get the parent. VEX isn't hard to learn I teach parents all the time. Parents can be mentors, you don't need 1000's of hours of experience.
In year three, we are holding our own events (saving 50 per event for 10 teams) and starting 4 more teams. So up to 14 teams, 70 roboteers, 35 active parents.
This year you are "limited" to 1 sheet 12x24 of polycarb. They are looking at letting teams 3D Print.
I don't see a limitation on the parts being a limitation, more of a design constraint. YMMV.
I like to say "Come to the dark side, we have cookies", but in reality, I don't try to take roboteers from FIRST to VEX. I often will send someone to a FLL or FTC team because they are closer or their school supports it. Over 95% of the possible roboteers are not in any program. I'm not going to go grab your pie, there is more pie than any of us could eat untouched.
All the programs have their pros and cons, figure out which one works for you, grab a few 1000 roboteers and GO!
It is not much more effort to run 2-5 teams as it is to run 1. So run more!