So this begs the question: What's actually left that NEEDS to be shipped to veteran teams in the KoP tub(s)?
Start with last years
KoP list. Subtract the stuff that
has already been released that will only be in the rookie kit. Then subtract all the stuff from the KoP that wasn't used by the vast majority of teams (lots of the pneumatic components, Igus stuff, lead screw & nut, fans, latex tubing, etc.) or that most verteran teams have plenty of (circuit breakers, pneumatic tubing, wire terminals, wire, Spikes, zip-ties, etc). Now subtract the AM kit chassis, ToughBoxes, wheels, etc. that aren't used by a significant number of the veteran teams who build their own custom chassis, gearboxes, and/or wheels.
What's actually left that needs to be distributed to veteran teams at kickoff in the traditional plastic tubs? A battery, the 120A main breaker, a couple of jags, the CIM motors, maybe some of the other motors but even many of those aren't used by the majority of teams. Is there anything that REALLY needs to be shipped to veteran teams that couldn't be "purchased" from the "AM FIRST Choice Store" using some sort of a-la-cart FIRST cash voucher system? How much of the stuff in the plastic tubs do the majority of veteran teams actually NEED that is MANDATORY on the robot and that they don't probably already have in their shop?
It seems to me that there has always been a lot of stuff given to FIRST teams that has gone to waste. This seems like a good start at reducing some of that waste if it is implemented correctly. There are a lot of veteran teams with huge stockpiles of stuff leftover from previous years that is still the same as the stuff we get in the KoP every year. I'm pretty sure we have about 100 brand new 30A circuit breakers and 35 brand new Spikes in one of the parts drawers in the shop. I would love it if we don't get those in our KoP this year but could snag something we need and don't have from the FIRST Choice store instead. Even better would be if we find there is nothing in the FIRST Choice store that we need and then we could apply our "store credit" towards our registration fee.