Don't you think your poll is a little uneven? Polls are meant to be a way to fairly measure public opinion.
I agree that penalties are necessary, but there are many who don't think they are
The Very Bestest! Referees are not perfect. They are volunteers who try their best at a very difficult job. It is very difficult for referees to be consistent across different regionals because they are different refs with different interpretations.
FIRST has a new game every year so almost no way to develop precedents for rule enforcement. To make matters worse, the rules keep changing as Team Updates come out. The updates too are necessary, but they add more confusion to the mess.
This is no way to start a thread. ChiefDelphi is meant to be an "Open Forum" where people in the FIRST Community can share opinions (hopefully in a civilized manner). You set this thread up like a political rally, where those with differing opinions are not allowed within a 10-mile radius. You started this thread already on your soapbox and that is never good.
No good can come of this thread, it will just spark irrational heated arguments. I would recommend this thread be closed.
*gets down off own soapbox*