Are the mandatory bumpers helping or hurting?

Originally Posted by Wetzel

You ask if mandatory bumpers are helping or hurting, but don't really define what we are talking about helping or hurting. You then trot out a lot of different points that, viewed independently, could be seen as positives or negatives.

Lewis Carroll illustrated this well.
Alice: Which way should I go?
Cat: That depends on where you are going.
Alice: I don't know where I am going.
Cat: Then it doesn't matter which way you go!

Wetzel

Uh. Dude, your own quote of Katy's OP showed exactly what she meant by helping or hurting... I quote, here's what she meant:

bumpers are improving design and gameplay, increasing the spectator enjoyment of the game, preventing damage to robots or field components, preventing intentional tipping, making running a regional easier, or contributing to the events in another way I have not thought of.