The involvement of the adult and the sponsor in building the competition robot has been healthy debate on these message boards since they were started in 1998. As folks have said, there are many threads discussing this subject.
There are two that stick out in my mind...
1.
This discussion started out as a presentation of a 2-speed shifting gearbox used by the TechnoKats Robotics Team. (this is the design that eventually launched the AM Shifter series of shifting transmissions) The discussion quickly turns into a discussion about engineer involvement. You'll read a post by me that could have been much more tactful.
2.
This thread raises questions and discusses the merits of different types of teams (100% student designed and built, mix of adult and student, 100% adult designed and built). This thread is pretty long, and many people weighed in on the subject. We all learned a few things during that thread.
There's nothing wrong with bringing this discussion up again. FIRST is a unique thing... a special arrangement of teamwork, cooperation, and inspiration between students and adults, within and throughout all teams. New students and mentors enter into the FIRST community and they have questions and opinions about these things. To discuss corporation and mentor involvement is a good thing, even if opinions differ.
Enjoy,
Andy