[Kyle Love]

Well, life's not fair, as some of us have found out in many occasions.

I have found that attending multiple regionals, and playing teams such as Simbotics and the Chickens have improved the teams that I have been on. In my opinion, the best way to improve your team, is to take a good lickin' and learn how to improve next time. The teams I have been on have learned from loses to such "powerhouse" teams and went on to do better later in the season.

Likewise, I like to play the best of the best. You more then likely will not find a regional having a line up similar to IRI, with what most would call, the best teams in the world. You may have a few here and a few there. But, the teams I have been on want to play the best, every time.

I can see how you can be concerned with discouraging rookie teams, or teams who have a lot of rookies. Going along with the opening line of my post, I think its best to learn life lessons through FIRST along with Science and Technology. There are companies that have more R&D then others, and their final product (I would equate the Championship event to our final product) seems to be better because of their work. I know it costs a substantial amount to attend a second regional, but hey, its life.

This is all just my $0.02.