Frustrations with Minor Technicalities

[TubaMorg]

So why are rules growing so complex? Is it because the size of FIRST is growing? Are the games/robots becoming more complex? Is it a natural progression? IDK, I haven't been around long enough to see the less complex rules, so I really don't have a way to tell. I suspect it is a bit of all three.

The reason the rules keep getting progressively more complicated should be fairly evident by the amount of lawyering that is evidenced here and in the Q and A. I believe that GDC would be thrilled beyond belief if people would just try and meet the spirit of rules as written rather than try to exploit every loophole and imprecisely worded phrase that they can find. Well that doesn't happen so now the GDC has to try and craft bulletproof rulebooks. Unfortunately the GDC doesn't yet have a lawyer on the team, so the rules aren't yet up to Supreme Court standards. Maybe next year.