Legality of Downwards-Sloping Ramps

[Basel A]

There's been lots of discussion of various ramps, and it appears that most, if not all, ramps were accepted by inspectors from regional events to the Championship.

But that doesn't really satisfy me. At any event, possibly questionable or even outright illegal robots are passed and allowed into competition. There's hasn't been a thorough, rules-based discussion of downwards-sloping ramps (including, but not limited to, those of a U shape or those beginning at higher than 30'').

So that's why I've started this thread. The first real question I have about the legality of a downwards-sloping ramp comes from the following rule:

<G19> MINIBOTS must remain completely autonomous and move up the POST solely through electric energy provided after the start of DEPLOYMENT by the permitted, unaltered battery and converted to mechanical energy by the permitted unaltered motors (and associated, appropriate circuitry). <G19> means that HOSTBOTS are not allowed to launch the MINIBOT up the pole at the TARGET, or otherwise contribute to the vertical movement of the MINIBOT. Energy for vertical movement may not be stored in the MINIBOT before DEPLOYMENT (except that which is contained within the battery and excluding incidental kinetic energy stored in the motors or wheels, but NOT, for example, in a flywheel).

Emphasis mine. It is possible that gravitational potential energy, if utilised before or during deployment, is not legal. Some argue that this usage requires the minibot goes down, and that this is actually a disadvantage. I don't think so.

The minibot is required to go up the pole from the deployment line to the sensor to score. During that period, there's no plausible way to gain an advantage by going down. That's why this is (or should be) legal.

However, going downwards before or during deployment can be an advantage. It provides a kinetic energy that, though directed downwards, can be and was converted into kinetic energy propelling the minibot upwards. Because it is an advantageous use of energy not stemming from the minibot battery, a downwards-sloping ramp should not be legal.

Thoughts?