[Boydean]

Doesn't this go against one of things that makes FRC different from all the other competitions? 6(.5) weeks to design/build/program a fully functional(or as close as possible) robot that when shipped its no longer touched until the team gets to the competition. This is what makes FIRST such a great experience. When I go into companies and talk to them about what we do they are amazed at the all the technical aspects of the program. Then when I tell them that its just 6 weeks to do it their mind explodes(mine does as well).

FIRST alumni are that much more valuable 'cause they have experience working under a tight deadline. By allowing teams to keep back their robot tell competition would eliminate that all together. I know if i had the chance, all I would do is test theories up until competition started, and build my bot around what I was seeing during the real game.

Aside from if the current system is fair or not. FIRST is about delivering experiences that can't be found outside the real work place. Learning how to work with a team, on a robot, in the middle of the night before ship date is what makes FIRST FIRST.

Just my .02.