Very true. I believe most are trying to win instead of just designing. In thier effort to win they are doing what they *assume* FFR wants to see, based on other statements FFR has made. Statements suchs as "Single donor", "$10K kit price", "No bodywork by using gelcoat panels", etc.
I'm not an artist, so my natural inclination would be to design to those (artificial?) constraints also. I have a feeling it's the natural artists that can shed the apparant design constrainst the easiest. What method of thinking will eventually win? No idea.
On a personal note, I have no desire to see an otherwise excellent design win, and then get murdered in the translation to production.