Thanks _the_ and judges for your consideration and follow up. The confusion started when the "how a tool is used" concept was adopted. I'm guessing that is still the case since it doesn't seem to be specifically addressed. Obviously, Lancman didn't use guides in the example above, so it didn't seem to be any where near a grey area based on my understanding of RBD's interpretation of the rules.
It doesn't seem to matter though because it sounds like any Hand Made contestant that pushes the limits will just be reassigned to the Machine Category with out any negative repercussions. Is that why there has been no response to my request that my entry to be reclassified?
I was just looking back at O-L’s build thread for the prize light he built last year. I had to laugh inside, when I reached the end of his beamshots and saw this line:
Not to in any way put down that light (it is still awesome looking and I’d be proud to own one) but, if you’ve been watching his builds over the past year, you know how funny that line is.
I'm not going to ask a 4th time to be reclassified to the machine category as it apparently is too difficult to cut and paste my name a few lines down. Instead of saying please, I will just say withdraw me from this "contest". I do not have the time or energy to put hundreds of hours and dollars in the name of this contest when a simple, reasonable, request made more than once can not be honored. I didn't introduce vague nuances into this contest, but I guess questioning them crossed an unspoken line.
I wish the best to the contestants! I'll continue to root for you as you are the real contributors and true spirit to this event due to the amount of time, money, sweat, and (sometimes) blood that you invest.
He probably just forgot, it happens sometimes. You could just go ahead and continue your build as if machine made. I’m sure it would get corrected sooner or later.
..but this time I just didn't understand it correctly, I guess.
[quote=ImA4Wheelr]
^ Thank you. I will now commence planning proper.
[/quote]
^^ At this point I thought that you would be ok with "just be reassigned to the Machine Category with out any negative repercussions", but that was obviously a misunderstanding. I'm very sorry about that. Please accept my sincere apologies.
I'll do that right away, before I forget.
We would really love to see you joining / staying in the competition. But I also understand if you feel really bad about my misunderstanding, are not able to accept my apologies, and still want to be withdrawn. [In that unfortunate case, please repeat your request to be withdrawn.]
I appreciate your explanation and apology _the_ and, of course, accept them. I also appreciate your urging me to stay in the contest. I just don't have the energy to gin back up for it. So please withdraw me from this year's competition. You have a great group of competitors and prizes. So it will be a good and entertaining one. Best wishes on it.
The enormous amount of work going into some of the builds is amazing but it’s also nice to see some of the simpler projects come out clean and sharp too.
Thanks man. This competition is a blast. Even if it always ends up costing us all more money and time than we ever thought possible. In my case much much much more time LOL!