And then it hit me....

[Joe Johnson]

Joe i really dont agree with you. Limiting the money a sponsor spends is really not a large matter. If they are putting out 5k for entrance then what is another 500. But i do think that this is a good rule and that teams should only be allowed the 3 days.

I never said that it was an effective strategy to limit costs or even that it was in important goal to limit costs.

What I KNOW is that FIRST is convinced that costs to sponsors has to be controlled for the good of FIRST.

What I THINK is that THEY think that this new rule (perhaps old new rule if Raul the magnificent has got it right -- see his message else where) will help control costs to teams (and thus sponsors).

Actually, I was just posing it as a theory to explain the method to FIRST's madness. By and large, I have found FIRST to be reasonable and logical folks. They don't often do things without a reason.

Up until I came up with this theory, I could think of no reason at all for FIRST's new ruling. This theory at least gives me a hook to hang my hat on, if you will. Perhaps I will have to toss the hat in the garbage after all, but for now, I think I will hang on to my belief in the reasonableness of the fine folks at FIRST.

Joe J.