Personally, I think the controversy over having to qualify for the Nationals is just a tad overblown. I agree that this is something new and unexpected this year (not to mention it adds uncertainty to our attending the Nationals) but this is also something that many people knew was inevitable.
By introducing 'qualification' this year, FIRST is just streamlining itself for the future. (ahh.. yes business lingo
) By this time next year, I predict that we would have gotten used to the idea of qualifying for the nationals and everything would settle down.
But thatz just my two cents,
Anthony.