This is a very interesting thread thanks for starting it Jonno. I would repeat most of what Shane said.
I Love to see flippers in action as an engineer I can appreciate the work and technical brilliance that has gone into them Iron awe 5 and 6 are to my mind perfect for that particular robot type. well done guys
I come for the fun, knowing I am not going to win any competitions is no problem for me. I design different robots ones that haven't been made like that before. That's what I enjoy.
I do find it boring to lug a robot 200 miles and get it ready for the fight and then last about 15 seconds before Toxic 2 or Kronic fires Saint OOTA from the other side of the stage!!
I don't have much enthusiasm to get the HW going for the start of the year I might get the FW sorted, But that is nothing connected with the robot scene. That is just how I feel at the moment.
A problem is diversity in the types of robots there are working on the scene, I think I have said this on another thread but it may be relevant as far as diversity is concerned.
It is up to the organisers to level the playing field to make other types more competitive, Jonno has gone some way with the catch wires on the sides of the arena. other ways would be to adjust the amount of co2 the robots are allowed to carry so you could have the cannons but the flip must count! or less powerful robots that can turn over a robot (but not flip OOTA) many times. also segregation have HP flippers only fighting other HP flippers and the others fight in separate fights. I think the suggestions should come from all of us but the final decision as to what type of show is put on, is only the concern of the event organisers, after all it's their money on the line.