Why not use both systems. Keep the FedX for teams like our friends in Brazil, or out in the boonies, or without access to an SUV. They could benefit even more by having their bot shipped to a second event from the savings gained by others opting to BYO.
We in the Oakland County, Michigan area have two regionals that are less than one hour away, and four more within a six hours or less. We could save the rest of the country those extra shipping costs by not waisting resources by shipping ours across the street.
As for giving the well to do teams an additional advantage - I just can't buy that. Not when I keep reading here that 'it's not about the robot' & 'it's not about the competition' - so why do the arguments always boil down to leveling the playing field? - as if we could. We have a 50,000 sq. ft. machine shop with three water cutters, eight CNC, 200 ProE seats, etcetera., and etcetera. They could cut the build time in half and we'd make the show. More time means nothing to us. But cash money sure does.
As to the fear of copycats: IMO, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Not only that, it's one heck of a good way to even things out. A good idea is a good idea - and it's often the case that the copy-cat improves on it. What could be wrong with that?
Recent and current events have led me to believe that we cut costs, or else .
. ! So, with respect to the parent thread, it's not just one line item we need to examine, but any and all that waste resources.