Auto mode woes.

[Rich Ross]

I've been reading several threads recently talking about autonomous, how rough play reminds them of stack attack, and other gripes. I have noticed a pattern though.

2003: game decided by autonomous for the most part. GDC made auto mode such that it was essential to winning.
2004: Auto mode was nice, but didnt do much with the bonus balls. Mobile goals and such were involved to a small degree, but the autonomous was not the deciding factor most of the time. Since there was no "winner", it didn't set as many people off, but it wasn't a huge success in autonomous robotics
2005: Much like 2004, no winner, no results. Few teams did much, and camera struggles made it even harder. Teams had little incentive-to-difficulty (too much work for too little a reward). Hanging tetras and such were involved, but not as much vision tetras as many had hoped.
2006: If you won auto mode, you most often won the match. Complaints abounded and the flames of frustration were hot. Many complained and said it was bad or what not, and it seemed to decide a lot of games, but at least it got people programming auto modes that were fun to watch.
2007: Auto mode is missing. Few teams try, and fewer make it. Those that do don't seem to feel the same type reward that was seen last year.

Now, people are griping so much about autonomous that it seems like we'll be on a cycle. We should decide as a community what sort of autonomous objectives we would like to see (in general terms) and contact FIRST, letting them know what we'd like. I feel like this would add to the competition beautifully.

What do you want to see? More auto mode? More bonus points? No auto mode?

Let me (and everyone else) know you thoughts. I'm seriously interested in what you guys think.