[Jon Stratis]

I think the described "spring locking" would be ok, as there's no oil involved. The other type, with oil, probably not as FrankJ pointed out.

Personally, I don't see them changing that in the future. Having a reservoir of oil on a robot really is only asking for trouble - a good impact or two and the thing splits open, releasing oil over your robot, other robots, and the field - can you imagine trying to get that cleaned up out of the field carpet so it doesn't impact future matches?

Your best bet at getting anything legalized in the future, I think, is to keep asking questions about it on the Q&A each year. Carefully think through the consequences to the field, other robots, and general safety and of ways rules could we written to mitigate those consequences, without requiring a significant amount of engineering from teams - for example, see R69.