[EricH]

There have been numerous systems used over the years to split up the open registration.

1) Anybody, regardless of attending a regional or not. Ended sometime around 2000, IIRC, due to the number of regionals climbing to the point where it could end.
2) Even/odd. Ended around 2002, IIRC.
3) Points system, based on awards won the previous year. The more points, the earlier. Ended roughly 2004.
4) Time since last Championship. Still in use.

Pre-qualifiers and at-event qualifiers should not be changed. These teams deserve it. (Even though some of them do take up multiple slots.)

If someone can come up with a reasonably fair way to balance out the open registration and the "So close, yet so far" teams, that would be great. (Ditto for if somebody can come up with a good reason why FIRST didn't start moving teams off the waitlist until Week 3 at least this year...)