[Justin M.]

FIRST has stepped up the competition over the years, obviously. Robots are getting more complex, faster, and more powerful. This brings the demand for new motors, and more of them. However, I like to think of the motors in the kit like a set of watercolors, with the robot being the canvas. Just like artists don't use every single color availible, robots shouldn't need to use every motor given to them. It's quality, not quantity, for some teams that is, anyway.

On the other hand, some teams have the knowledge, resources, and man-power to implement every single thing given to them, which is how I think it should be, to an extent that is. Figuring a way to use less motors to do the same task makes things much simpler and easier to accomplish in a 6 week period. However, theres nothing wrong with modifying a tried and true design with more motors to make it more powerful (like a gearbox), thus, putting you ahead from other teams. After all, this is a competition.