I feel like sometimes the judging is a bit biased and that there are definitely pre-determined favorites. And you can be a smaller budget band and advance - I've seen it and lived it. Personally, not to knock the more rigid shows, but I think the ones that are more DCI like are more demanding physically and UIL should rethink their stance on shows like that. Rigid does not mean better, cleaner, or more exceptional, and more lyrical and fluid does not mean less than, messier, or lacking.