I’m glad we had some discussion about the rules and categories.
For me, it’s more clear now that the categories as they currently exist solve more problems than they introduce.
The present rules and categories accomplish the following:
-There is an emphasis on the hand made (basic tools) category, which maintains the character of the builds in general and is in line with the original Old-Lumens challenge.
-The categories create something closer to a level playing field within each category.
-The DIY nature of the challenge is maintained, although outsourced services are permissible in the modified category.
-The modified category permits a wide range of projects, which really does make it a challenge. There’s no real excuse not to enter if you’ve got the inclination to do so!
The only real downside, is that the subordinate categories are in effect subordinate in that they don’t get the possibility of first choice of prize, but the prizes are of course a bonus, gifts from our generous sponsors which we are fortunate to have, and I think it’s clear that most people do not enter specifically because of the prizes, or at least the possibility of getting first choice of price, koef3 being a notable exception. 
If a contestant really wants a shot at first choice of prize, they can simply enter the hand made category!
Beyond winning within your specific build category, any build can win the “people’s choice awards,” which is a primary win in it’s own right.
Last year I added some subtle clarifications to the rules, which I talked about in this post.
With those clarifications, the “Modified Light” category became “Modified Light (Anything Goes!),” and this category does allow external services. Why? In year’s past there have been several people who wanted to have things 3D metal printed at shapeways, or who otherwise needed custom parts or services to complete their build, but were told that it was not allowed. These people did not enter the challenge. I think one or two of them even rage quit the forum over it. The reason for the change is a logical one: if you can take an existing host and swap LEDs and a different driver into it, or make an accessory for a host, etc., it is actually more DIY rather than less, if you designed the host yourself and then had Shapeways 3D print it for you. When it comes to outsourcing, the judges will be taking into account what exactly you did do yourself, so the concern over the possibility of outsourcing everything, or the majority of the work, is really a non issue. Outsourcing is only specifically allowed within the modified category, although PCBs, drivers, and firmware can be acquired from any source regardless of the category, which is another clarification I added, since this was always a point of confusion for people year after year.
As they are written now, the rules under the Modified Light category do not explicitly state that anything goes, there’s just the (Anything Goes!) header, and the part that says “If your build breaks the rules of the other categories, you may enter it in this category,” which is a rather subtle way of saying anything goes. That header and the latter statement are both things I added last year, in order for the challenge to accommodate more diverse projects.
The rules of the Modified Light category could be further clarified. It could be stated that outsourced services are permissible within the category, or that a build such as an AC powered desk lamp would be permissible, both things which break the rules of the other categories. It could be made clear that “anything goes” applies within a flashlight or lighting specific context, so you can’t enter a knife or a clock unless it features built in lighting, in which case you could enter it. These details are largely implied but not explicitly stated at present. Probably such clarifications aren’t really needed.
Speaking of the concept of a “level playing field,” this seems to be an unmentioned fundament of the hand made category especially, but also of the categories in general. Of course, there is no such thing as a perfectly level playing field. Not everyone has a Dremel, or a drill press or belt sander, but at this point those things cost about as much as a Dremel, at least in their cheaper forms, and these are all rather basic tools.
The routing table used by MtnDon in his hand made (basic tools) build last year, is not explicitly listed on the list of allowed tools, is about a $250 piece of gear, and not many people have one. At the same time, it would be fairly easy to set up a drill press to perform the same function of cutting slots and grooves in wood, and drill presses are allowed within the category.
Similar logic could be extended to include a milling machine though, because a drill press could be used with an “XY table” which would give it similar XY movement and locating abilities as a milling machine, albeit one with poor spindle rigidity. I talked about this XY table issue a little in my clarifications post last year, and said that they would technically be allowed, but I now think that it would be more in alignment with the character of the categories if “leadscrew driven tooling” were not allowed in the hand made category. The routing table used by MtnDon does not have a leadscrew driven axis, (except for the Z axis, i.e. tool depth, but this is functionally similar to a drill press quill) you have to move the wood by hand. So this would be an allowed piece of equipment within the hand made category even with the leadscrew clarification in place, unless the Z axis were a point of contention, at which point drill presses should probably also be called into question as permissible within the category. On that note, we might want to keep in mind just how difficult and potentially dangerous it can be to drill proper holes in metal without the use of a drill press. Dividing heads and spin indexers, which are devices that hold and rotate parts in a precise manner, are another accessory which could be used in conjunction with a drill press. Using these, the X/Y locating would still be accomplished manually, but the rotational locating would be accomplished precisely. Whether or not dividing heads / spin index fixtures should be allowed to be used in conjunction with a drill press in the hand made category should also be considered.
The clarifications added to the rules last year were not intended to fundamentally change the nature of the builds or the categories, only to clarify what is and is not allowed. Such clarifications need to be fairly specific to ensure that they properly characterize the categories. The (Anything Goes!) aspect of the modified category could be a point of controversy or contention, although there were no objections when it was proposed last year, but I think it serves to truly make the challenge a challenge. If Anything Goes!™ within the category, there’s nothing formally stopping you from participating! The Old-Lumens challenge really is a challenge, more so than it is a contest in my opinion, and really does inspire people to create things that they otherwise would not have been driven to create. This is a big part of what makes it fun and special.
Hopefully this recent discussion of the rules and categories has illustrated to everyone how changes to the rules could easily change the character of the Old-Lumens challenge, and substantial changes may not be for the best after all, since what we’ve got has worked pretty well for us so far.