Why do we bother bagging?

Working backwards:

5) Low resouces teams often find themselves in a position that their robot is primarily complete but programming and testing is not. This is why I have seen many teams including ours not make a single practice round. There is very little help available at competitions, as everyone is very busy with their own robots. An extra week for programming and testing only, would provide the relief mentors need from the build and also provide relief from the highly stressful Thursdays.

4) Restricting holdback to 20% would prevent teams from major redesign's of major systems. I have seen many "bagged" robots that were not operable, only to go through a complete overhaul.

3) System specifications would keep everyone honest.

2) The major financial commitment that multi regionals require, prohibit many teams from going to more than one. This is a direct relation to cost/performanance. One extra regional and a practice robot would double our budget.

1) Practice robots are clearly an enormous advatage to teams that have the resources to complete them. Using an exact replica to practice with and revise, is no different than working on the one in the bag. Put a non-working bot in the bag, refine parts on your "practice bot" install them on Thursday. Teams could continue to use their "practice bot" for their intended purpose, PRACTICE. Driver traing, game strategy would remain a huge benifit alone.

If the rules require that these bots be built in 6 weeks, then let's keep it 6 weeks.

Where in the "real World" Do you get to manufacture a part or assembly, deliver that part to your customer and then in a few weeks deliver the one that works?