One way to think about it.

[Wayne C.]

Hey Joe-
Your rational explanation above does give one perspective of FIRST's proclamation and is probably very close to the reasoning they used in making their decision. But I want to know just how you get to be one of those "teams which leave FIRST hollow without you" that got special treatment? Not every team can be a dynamic right hand to FIRST but I know many of them have been active promoters of the competition. Not all teams can win the Chairman's Award or travel to lots of regionals to amass the required points. I guess $$$ is important to be successful in FIRST.
The competition has always been presented as trying to give the FIRST experience to as many kids as possible. FIRST should look for a much larger venue, split to East and West Coast- heck, do something to accommodate all the kids. Plans for next year to this end should be in process now ( and I hope they are) It will be a difficult job- maybe impossible. My team, and I'm sure many others, would be happy to help if we can. But to look to recruit more teams and have nowhere to put them makes no sense.
To close- would your opinion still be the same if your team was excluded, despite all they have done for the competition? The last minute decision came as a punch in the face to many of us- and it hurt!

WC