http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...nt.aspx?id=454
as per the FIRST website, as of 11/9/2006 you were able to register for any event including championships even if you attended last year until 12/1/2006 thats 3 weeks, and i know for a fact that on December 2nd there were still open spots for championships. so instead of complaining about FIRST cutting teams off, i say why didn't you register then, why wasn't a priority then.
To run off into a tangent, teams that wait based on their performance shouldn't be allowed to attend there are 307 teams currently registered for championships, and at most 8 teams make it to the finals. thats roughly 2% of the robots there, so you could compete at 5 regionals win at each event, and not even make it to eliminations, FIRST Championships event is not about winning, its about the experience, the atmosphere, the people and the sites, there are a lot of amazing things to see at The Championships.
I rarely voice my opinion about things that people do, and i love reading Dr. Joe's Prediction threads, but i really think many teams, more veterans than rookies are starting to worry a bit to much about winning, as cliche as it is we are all winners just for showing up
*steps off the CD Communal Soap Box*