I think accessibility is important to the contest. For that reason, I think the modified light category is a really important one.
As far as the rules in the hand- and machine-made categories, I think they do need to stay strict. It would make my build extremely simple to be able to use a Convoy S2+ pill, even if I did modify it (but especially if I didn’t have to). And I think, for a lot of these challenges, that’s part of the point - if I were building this light just to build it normally, I’d almost certainly adapt someone else’s pill, be it a stock Convoy version or a kiriba-ru pill. Taking the effort to stop and figure out how to make the light work without that is, to me, the spirit of the contest.
I understand completely that it’s difficult to enter this contest. When I lived in an apartment, it was nearly unthinkable. I barely had space to work (my workspace was my computer desk, so I had to clear everything off - and make the PC inaccessible - to do even minor modding work), and I definitely didn’t have room for much tools. I could barely store the one toolbox with my soldering equipment in it. Now that I’ve got a house, I also have a bunch of tools, and more space for things. I’ve even got a semi-dedicated workspace on my fold-down Ikea Bjursta desk!
I’ve definitely noticed that there are a few “modified light” category entries that are… well, they are quite something. On the one hand, I think they deserve credit for that in the judging of the competition. On the other hand, I fear that it may be off-putting for those who have more limited capabilities and yet are still entering the same category.
As for the 3D printing issue, I can see some potential issues. With 3D printing, so much of the build is the design itself, and it’s difficult to know for sure if that’s been outsourced. With a hand-made light, the design could also be outsourced, but it’s really a far less significant portion of the effort. I also have some issues with outsourcing the printing. I don’t think it would be fair to have someone else CNC or manually machine parts for a machine-made entry, so I don’t really see this being different. At the same time, one need not necessarily own the printer, just be the one to actually operate it. Similarly, one might have access to a lathe or CNC mill they don’t own, but have permission to use it (at work, or a friend/relative’s, etc.), and I don’t see that as an issue.
It’s exciting to see the new ways people have to participate in this hobby, and I definitely want them to be able to be included in the Old Lumens contest. I think we should really work, collectively, to figure out how we can fairly include as many people as possible. Because that’s what makes the contest (and the hobby as a whole) great: as many people as possible being able to participate in as many different, creative ways as possible. (also, people liking different things: the extreme CRI fans vs. max lumens flooder fans vs. max candela thrower fans vs. practical EDC fans all coexisting)