[DaBruteForceGuy]

We had a very low budget, so much that we didn't even have the machine-shop! But we were also rookies, and rookies usually do start from the bottom up. But remember that FIRST isn't all robot, the advertising and finance divisions on the teams play an enourmous part in the overall FIRST expiriance. Sponsors don't just show-up, the teams usually have to earn their sponsers and find them in the first place. So, even though (regrefully) money does play a huge factor when teams are able to go ahead and change their robots in pit and out of pit, it isn't because the just simply have an advantage, they did work for those materials and spare parts. This also goes for the # of regionals they go to.