Is a shifting transmission really necessary?

[mechanicalbrain]

Cory this is directed at you. its very easy to make a simple drive train because most people will copy a design or buy one. there really is little ground for new creation. i think one common idea held by a lot of FIRSTers is that having a good robot is the complete objective and i feel kind of sad to see that. if we don't continually push the bar than eventually people will find a comfortable niche and get mired in it. in short by doing something crazy like a six speed drive train it shows the team has a true understanding of the given concepts and in doing the extreme they might be inspired to create new designs like the ball drive train. basically it encourages people to be creative something i push for hard. (i don't really feel like being criticized about encouraging impractical designs because if anyone feels like doing so then they really don't understand my post. this is just something i forsee someone posting)