If we have an award for good programming, shouldn't there be an award for good welding? I'll agree with the majority of experienced FIRSTers here in having sufficient confidence in the competency of the judges to recognize outstanding programming within the existing framework of awards. One thing that I really like about many of the design awards is the "demonstrated on the playing field", and "provides an advantage" type phrases.
On the other hand... if someone (say a big software corporation) came up with a substantial contribution to FIRST and suggested that they would be more than pleased to sponsor an award for programming, I suspect it might be possible to define appropriate criteria for a programming award.... or a welding award. Gee... a welding award would be great... our students have rocked at TIG the past couple years!
Jason