A couple thoughts:
Is it possible that the scheduling algorithm is partially to blame for a "perceived" higher level of "bad" robots? If you are paired with a "bad" bot for one isolated match, you probably will forget about it the day after the regional. It is quite another matter to be paired with the same "bad" or "no show" partner for more than half your matches. Also, there have been reports of these "bad" bots rising to the high profile Alliance Captain position thanks their schedule.
Rack n Roll and Triple Play despite a few similarities, are
very different games (as others have mentioned in this thread)
Rack n Roll
Rack n Roll is inherently defensive and it is difficult to score tubes. In this game defense is even a part of offense. In order to make long rows, you need to stop your opponents from placing tubes that break up your rows.
Look at what you have to do to score a tube effectively:
- "Grab" (with a moving mechanism) a tube firmly.
- Precisely position yourself around a often defended central structure.
- Place it onto a (rapidly) moving target.
Triple Play
Triple Play was inherently offensive and it was easy to score tetras. In that game the best defense was a good offense. In order to breakup your opponent's rows, just cap over their tetras and make your own rows.
Look at what you had to do to score a tetra effectively:
- HP place a tetra on simple hook (like a pvc T)
- Drive to 1 of 9 goals spaced out across the field.
- Lower the self-righting tetra over the goal and release.