Ok, I seems to have taken over the 15min limit before CD logs out user that don't use cookies, so here is the shorter version:
I approve of the ideas of an autonomous that is longer and seperate from the driver time (3 min matches with a 1 min auton?) and I think that something you cant sacriface for the auton in any way is a central location worth a massive amount of points that you can end up on (Stack attack was, I think, the most "TV-worthy" of all the games that I've seen because it had some level of mandatory contact and it was easier to explain than this years). I think that the option of remaining in auton mode for points is in interesting idea, but needs some polishing.
Ideas that I had include a 3 or 4 beacon system of IR sensors all on different channels/frequencies so the robots can triangulate their position on the field and then with a gyro determine angle. you would need lines or something else though, so teams that do not want to use the beacons have an alternative. I really liked the way that teams could have different objectives and sensors, instead of all needing one type of sensor to be able to do a particular task. If you have a method available to determine location and orientation, you make it possible to move autonomous to anywhere in the match, though I personally think that the beginning is the best (otherwise teams will have operators that step back maybe slower than others, just because they're a little slower (a.k.a me as the off-seson arm operator) and that would lead to putting the refs in the unenviable position of determining if a -5/-10 point deduction should be made. having *me* step into the booth a little late just means I'm a little late, not coasting the team any points or the refs any more stress than they already have (I dunno how they do it, but someday, I'll figure it out and volenteer too, and I know I wouldn't want to have to ref that particualar because its too vauge in most cases).
Things that I personally would not want to see leave FIRST include, the autonomous mode and the rest is for a different thread .

~Michael "Greenleaf, Pokey, The Crate Guy" Greenley

P.S. I'm sure I forgot something important in there...no, that's not it...right...42.