Time for a group hug ... or a lobotomy.
Today is December 8. Kickoff is almost here. For all we know, we're getting a kit filled with mailboxes, clowns, packing foam, and the only approved vendor could be nick.com.
While some of this discussion is worthy on some levels, most of it makes my head hurt. Just like every year, we will get our game and we will all do our best to follow the rules as given. Each team will place different "value" on "aftermarket purchases" vs. building from scratch. Approved vendors need to be defined somehow, let's not get picky at the microscopic level.
Might I suggest that these rules could really exist to protect teams from not getting parts in time to finish a robot? To make sure that teams have as equal an opportunity as possible? Does it matter if something arrives in six days instead of five? Maybe the rules are there to help our sanity and allow us to get some sleep during build season? What if they aren't there for us to scrutinize so closely people's heads and feelings hurt?
If you took the collective energy and effort that was spent crafting these posts and used it instead for what our founders want us to do with our time, I bet we'd have more teams and volunteers in all of our programs right now.
Now, go inspire and recognize.
Namaste.