[thefro526]

I will say this, First has a certain "experience" that can and will never be replicated. This is esspecially true when you go to the championship event. You can see First as a whole there and the experience can be awe-inspiring.

Now that I got that out of the way, Vex is one of the coolest things I have ever used or owned. I've found that you can give the average High School student a Vex Kit and a few hours and they will have assembled something cool with little to no guidance. Now once you add guidance to that mix the possibilities shoot through the roof.

I've also notice that IFI, because it manufactures every part of vex system except the software, can give amazing customer service. I've had problems that I could not solve and got replies within hours. It's also nice to know the people who are behind the product, I bet at least 2 out of 3 people can name someone who works for IFI and is involved with Vex/First. I've found that there all good people and are willing to help with almost anything.

For those above reasons I would stay with IFI's vex program. Especially if it's free or nearly free. That gives people like me and a few others who own their own kits the opportunity to go out an build robots that can compete on a very low budget. I foresee alot of teams sticking with Vex just because of free/low cost competitions. Just think a team who needed a budget of $1000 to compete in First only needs half of that to compete in a free program, so what do you do with the other half of the money? Buy more parts, sponsor another team, travel to another competition. It seems like with vex the possibilities are endless.

And my final note on Vex is that it is our product. When we ask IFI gives. We wanted larger onmi wheels, and IFI made them, we wanted new gears and they too were made, and the list goes on and on. I think that Vex will grow faster without FIRST in the coming years but, only time will tell.