[KenWittlief]

I did not write the rules. I can see that many people are saying "It cant really means what it says"

but is that because we are convinced that is not what FIRST wants, or because we dont want it to say what it says?

Not every team has people hanging out on CD, so we can all wink at each other and say " the rule doesnt really mean what it says, so go ahead a re-use designs and subsystems from last year, as long as you have a machinist make new parts between kickoff and ship date"

so, if FIRST really means "go ahead and design all year long for next year and re-use and copy whatever you want" then they should say that - and say it clearly.

Teams I have been on, prototypes and proof of concept stuff was made of cardboard and plywood and two by fours, or using the edu bot, or whatever we had laying around. If the concept worked then we designed something similar, with metal or plastics, using approved materials and motors and parts. Nothing ever went from prototype to shipped robot with no changes.