There is a huge disconnect between the various posters here. Some people are discussing the point & goal of FIRST and others are offering their opinions masked as point & goal of FIRST.
Not much gets me more upset than people who state a point as fact and do not back it up with any sources. If anyone states a goal of FIRST, back it up with a quote from a FIRST publication or a quote from Dean. If the source is missing, the statement can be taken as no more than a single individual's opinion. If someone wishes to offer changes for FIRST, clearly state it.
The best source I found for the goal of FIRST is
http://www.usfirst.org/about/FIRSTBriefing.pdf.
Some food for thought: "The goal isn't simply to build a robot; the robot is a vehicle for learning much more. The real goal is building a collaborative team, a supportive community, and a solid strategy for problem solving during the competition." "The process inspires students students to learn more about science, math and technology and to develop an enthusiasm for further studies in engineering, the sciences, and design."
I think all rookies should read up on the goals of FIRST so they don't make assumptions, as I've seen many in this thread do.
If I have time I'll post my opinions later.
Mike