another instance where i saw the refs cutting a keeper was to extract the tube w/o moving the robot.
After going to Boilermaker regional and Great Lakes Regional, I found different refs had their own styles. The guys at boilermaker calmly cut into the tubes with scissors, making it easy to repair them. Ron, on the other hand, repeatedly stabbed the tubes with a knife, scaring drive teams.
Well if they cut them you can probably get one as a souvenir, thats if their not planning on patching those bad boys up and reusing them 
deflated tubes do make for wonderful skirts. I own one in each color myself. 