[Don Wright]

I wasn't going to reply because I agree with a lot of what has been said in this thread and I feel that it is like the "how much should the mentors do vs. how much should the students do" debate. It will rage on forever and both sides have their points. I do have some viewpoints from some of the statements.

- I think saying teams that have a second robot and use it for practice is not cheating and saying that the teams that do are cheating, is unfair.

- The spare parts we have were either made before ship date or will be made during the fix-it-windows next week. We were all just too burned out getting the robot ship-ready to take advantage of the fix-it-windows last week. We did finish our robot enough to get several hours of practice in before it ships which was nice.

- I think shipping the RC (or electrical board) only hurts those teams that can't afford a second RC and victors and spikes and it probably prevents them from building a second robot...giving them the advantage of practice like the "have" teams.

- I believe I understand what FIRST is trying to do with the rules, but I think it is a very difficult thing to do. And I don't think the rules are really accomplishing the goal. But, I hate people who pick apart the rules and don't propose a solution, so...

1. Forget the specified "fix-it-windows". Just say that after ship date before the first tournament weekend, all teams can only build spare and replacement parts if you are going to use them on the competition robot. Programming is not allowed.

2. From 8am EST on March 2 (beginning of the first tournaments), all teams can make spare and upgrade parts and parts until 5 pm Saturday night, EST. Programming is allowed.

3. From 5 pm Saturday night, EST until 8am EST March 9, teams that competed that weekend are allowed to make spare and upgrade parts, and program. Teams that did not compete, can only make spare parts, no programming.

Repeat for the rest of the season. the 25 pound rule applies to all parts that are not off the shelf replacements.

I figure this gives all teams the chance to make parts, upgrade or just spare, at their home shop, and yet does not have unlimited time for all teams and punish those who compete early.

Of course, as I type this, I start arguing with myself about this... But, they are just my thoughts...