Ethics 101: To re-use or not to re-use?

[aaeamdar]

Dear Chief Delphi Community,

Re-reading the rule book, I came across the following rule in the 2006 Manual, Section Five:

Originally Posted by Section_Five_Rulebook

<R71> Unaltered software modules developed during prior competitions may not be directly re-used. Just as designs for hardware COMPONENTS may be reused from one year to the next, software algorithms and designs may be reused. However, the specific lines of code must be customized for each robot each year.

This rule seems to be saying that you can't copy-paste sections of old code into your new robot's brain. My first question is, is that the way everyone else sees it? What do you think this rule means?

My second question is this: what constitutes violation of the spirit of the rule versus the letter of the rule, and is such a violation acceptable to *you*? It seems to me that you could follow the letter of this rule while easily sidestepping the spirit. In general, is it acceptable to dodge around a rule you simply don't like?

Thanks for your input,
Paul Dennis
Team 1719