[FRC4ME]

You can add me to that list. When I first read about the seeding system on paper I was very skeptical and thought it was going to suck. But having seen a season of regionals play out with the system in place (and the GDC's quick-thinking modifications), I think it worked amazingly well.

The big thing for me is how the new system allows you to play the game and not worry so much about winning. In previous years, at Virginia at least, losing two matches was reason to discontinue your scouting efforts. All of the teams in the top eight were usually 7-0-0 or 6-1-0. After the almost-inevitable loss due to unlucky alliance pairing on Friday, the rest of the regional was very tense. Waiting for a final score at the end of each match was very stressful for me, as I listened for that single penalty that would make or break my team's chances at the top eight.

Now, with robots ranked on performance rather than W-L-T record, I found the regional to be much more enjoyable for myself and my team. You can just relax, play the game, and let your robot do what it's designed to do, knowing that you will be ranked accordingly. Losing one match by one point isn't such a big deal anymore, and you know that so long as it was a tough loss and your alliance performed well, you will be still be ranked accordingly.

By the same token, I believe this system has done a much better job than that of previous years in correctly ranking the top eight. I didn't see nearly as many complaints about unfair ranking this year. In previous years, on my high school team we always had something to complain about with regards to our schedule, and we never really felt like our ranking was fair. I didn't see any of that this year.