[EricH]

A quick review of the "Algorithm of Death", as it was known:
Step 1: divide all teams at the event evenly into three tiers by number.
Step 2: Take the first unmatched team from each tier and place them on one alliance. Repeat for the second unmatched team. Have those two face each other.
Step 3: Repeat Step 2 until all tiers are out of unmatched teams.
Step 4: Apply other factors. This gets the variation.
Step 5: Distribute to teams.

This resulted in some lousy rankings for good teams. It's hard to get even a 50% win record if you're against 1114 for 5 out of 9 matches and never with them.

The algorithm was based on the (mistaken) assumption that rookies (and second and sometimes third year teams) are inherently worse on the field than veteran teams.