Errr, I did mention that school, job, and money would present a major issue for a weeklong competition. I too would want teams to qualify, but than you make people angry if they DONT qualify. The Odd/Even system makes little sense, so it boils back down to the whole Qualify for Nats versus "Open to all"
I took some major flak in another post for advocating teams to qualify, as for Disney being empty...
(who are we kidding, its DISNEY
)
P.S. (I WAS being sarcastic, sorry if that wasnt apparent, i've been trying to moderate lately (the kids in my history class think im a confederate
)
Personally, I think that FIRST should make teams qualify, and thus, make the Nats a priviledge. This whole Odd/Even system stinks. Then we get back to Rookies again (should they get a free pass to the Nats for first year?)
I'd be fine staying at disney, but the place gets PACKED. Last year, it was crowded (maybe im too used to the NJ countryside
) something needs to be done a allieviate this problem: cut down amount of poeple by making them qualify, or find a bigger host city.
Personally, if FIRST continous to do this whole all rookies+odd/even+award winning people, we'll need a bigger place, or more divisions
Otherwise, Disney is fine. It has hotels, stuff to do, and is great.
I'm not anti-Disney, but I'd like to know what sort of contract exists between FIRST and Disney.
BTW, the whole 75$ per person deal is worth it. Last year, teams were getting free rides, being paid for by other teams.
But then the whole agruement becomes: how do we make teams qualify for the NATS? and that's bound to tick people off, esp. if their robots didnt win enough awards to get them there (CD, i think, will be at the Nats every year, no worries there
)
You see? Now I've done it! Someone will reply that I'm being mean, making teams eran there way into the Nats. But hey, i dont hold much back (ask my history class)
--Ben Mitchell