[AmyPrib]

I don't know what my opinion really is on this, but a few thoughts:

I think there needs to be an across the board "tools down" date. Whether that remains an actual ship date, or becomes honor code, I don't know.

Regardless if FedEx pays for the first regional shipment, many many teams (majority?) go to a second regional (some a third). The argument could be "they don't have to", which is true, but I would want to compete as much as possible for all the hard work put in. Then there's the shipping to Championships. I am not sure we can rely on FedEx to give free shipping forever, so perhaps at some point the cost will increase due to this.

I also disagree that the gap would be widened. I just don't think it would benefit the "have's" as much as it would the "have-not's". I do not want to see the build season go on too long (for burn-out, time committment reasons), but if there's an honor code "tools down" it should be respected and followed. This isn't a place for cheaters, but I suppose there will always be some. (I don't know any, but just assuming realistically)

It's a lot about cost. Let's say there's a regional 40miles away from me. I have to ship my robot to some place that is 200mi away from me, just so that it can be shipped back close to home. Seems silly doesn't it. Seems like a waste of money. It happens. Our robot has been able to fit an SUV the last few years. Teams without a trailer or SUV, I am not sure what the solution is, but you could spend a couple grand on a trailer that can be used for the next 20yrs, or you could pay $600 twice a year for the next 20yrs. I don't know exact numbers, but it's all relative.

If we can eliminate the need for most crates and shipping, it could reduce the cost and time for unloading and reloading at the event (for teams and FIRST).

As far as having software and autonomous flourish by having more time with it, I'd like to see these systems reused for a couple years so we could master it. Or, provide more information about these systems earlier than kick-off so that teams can try it out. We wouldn't know the game, but we could know "this camera has to find the color green" and there could be some development time in the Fall.

On the note of having veteran teams compete in earlier regionals and rookies in later.... It wouldn't much matter if there's a honor code in place. But, I am not a fan of this idea. Personally I like to compete against a diverse group of teams. I want the competition to be strong, but there are a lot of strong, innovative rookies out there too. I don't want to see all vets vs vets in the first weeks and all rookies vs rookies in later weeks. Some might like that, some might not. Now, this is no mandatory rule, and there would be conflicts of when teams can compete, but in general, if this were to happen, I wouldn't be a fan.

So, like I said, I'm not sure what my opinion is. There will always be pros and cons no matter what we do. There will always be those with and without. What is more beneficial in the long run? I don't think we can just open it up and say "eliminate the ship date and work as long as you like", but some will say "you can't rely on an honor code". I say, why not? In this type of organization, where GP is the key, why would there be people that want to break the honor system? (kinda retorical question but perfectly legit)

I would essentially like to see the time restrictions (for many reasons stated in this thread) stay somewhat in place, but find a way to eliminate "unnecessary" costs. There will be teams that have those costs no matter what, but unfortunately we will never make everyone happy. But, even if time restrictions were opened up a little, perhaps instead of assuming the veteran teams will continue to dominate the rookies, maybe it will give the vets more time to HELP the rookies.