[ducttapedude]

Simply in a 2 cents form of a reply

I'm just so....reassured of the "FIRST community" after reading through this thread, as even as we debate the imperfections of our society and those consequences that fall in our lives and strongly affect this program...there is still humility, there is still the spirit of FIRST, even as during our offseason lives we still strive to keep this program as good as we can get it, that even if the program isn't perfect, that we strive for perfection, and fairness, and that the initial reasons for this program are still here, sure things change, the world changes, such is life, as long as the FIRST community keeps fighting for itself....I do not see FIRST going off the deep end.

Sure, it may not how be how it was in the beginning, my brother and sister have both been in the program for 4 years each, it was a much different program, and heavily funded sponsors do have a large advantage, but in the end, I still see teams that come in last place having a great time, learning priceless amounts of experience, and still being inspired and recognizing science and technology.

hope this wasn't too much of a tangent reply...