A request for change to next years Innovation FIRST control board/system.

[MikeDubreuil]

I agree, with Ken and Jamie. Ading USB to the RC adds very little value. The advantages of the comm port outweigh the disadvantages. The advantage being that you can use an older laptop, porting the various tools is easier (to Linux or Mac for instance), and many uPs handle it onboard. The only disadvantage of using RS-232 is speed and the lack of the port on newer laptops.
It takes about 10 seconds to download a new program, which isn't a long time. IFI could easilly make up for the missing comm port issue by publishing a list of USB to RS-232 comm adapters that are known to work with the RC's programming port.