[BillP]

I must say that I totally approve of the new alliance picking method, for a number of reasons. As a spectator, I would want to see the most exciting matches possible, and having more equally talented alliances in the finals will provide this. As a competitor, sure winning is fun, but competing is the adrenaline rush! The tighter the competition, the better the rush.

Someone posted that the number 1 team is in first place for a reason (implication: they have the best robot/strategy). Not to belittle the teams that end up in first place at an event, but because of the alliance pairings in the qualifying matches, I have seen robots that perform very well not end up anywhere near the top because of their partners, and mediocre robots end up near the top, again because of their partners. You have to admit that there is a certain amount of luck when it comes to landing in first place.

Please do not interpret this to mean that I think that the robots that end up in first place do not belong there, or are only there because of luck. Robust and reliable bot's that play the game well driven by teams that understand and implement good strategy will always do well.

Anyway, the bottom line (at least for me) is that the new rule will make the finals more exciting ... and that's what it's all about.