Next Season: Please No More Non-Elimination Rounds!
I think the non-elimination rounds should be retired. I don't like it that a team that comes in last during a leg isn't eliminated - it just seems wrong and not fair. Even with the penalities given to the teams that come in last, I still don't like it. Taking away a team's money and clothes just doesn't seem like a big enough penalty. Maybe giving the team a 3 hour penalty as well would make it more fair. But given the amount of "bunching" that occurs in the beginning of a leg, I doubt this would even make a difference. Any thoughts on this subject?

I think the non-elimination rounds should stay. I like how they've made it a bigger penalty than it used to be by not only taking away belongings and all money but by stipulating that they "must start the race with $0". This means they cannot beg for money at the pit stop or from competitors. However, I was also frustrated last night at how difficult it was for Uchenna and Joyce to get the money they needed. It has never seemed to be that hard for the broke teams to get the money they needed...even in third world countries. The good thing about having the non-elimination rounds is that it can prevent teams from giving up. Many times teams think they are in last (but are not) and keep going because they tell themselves "This might be one of the non-elimination rounds". Of course poor Lena in TAR 6 kept rolling those darn haybales for hours and hours based on the same premise. Had she given up once they knew that all the other teams had passed them, she would have saved herself 2 hours of pain, sweat, and scratches.

Re: Raising Dough
Yeah, it was odd how Uchenna and Joyce were having a hard time raising dough in the last episode. I've never seen other teams have as much difficult as Uchenna and Joyce. This is how it should be, though, It should always be a major hassle raising money. It is a penalty, after all. I like how they aren't able to raise money during the Pit Stop, this is a good addition to the rules. I also wish it were against the rules to accept money, clothes, etc. from another team.

I don't like nonelimination legs in general, but particularly once they get down to 6 teams or so. The last few legs should each be elimination legs. Use some non-elims early in the game when teams are starting out if you're going to have them. Or start off with one non-elim (call it a "practice leg" or something) and then say, "okay, I hope you got the hang of it 'cuz from now on, if you finish last, you're on the next plane to New York City."

I like sea cucumber's idea that the first round can be a nonelimination leg and after that somebody will be going home each week.

My hubby doesn't like the non-elim rounds, either. If you come in last, dammit, you lost! You go home! :wink: As for me, I agree with Brinna. Make it more of a struggle for the team who comes in last in a non-elim round by taking everything from them except their passports and the clothes on their backs. If they raise enough money to buy an article of clothing or a backpack (like Gretchen did) so be it.

The show is good...let it alone :cool:

Why are people so up in arms about non-elimination legs all of a sudden? They've been a part of the game for a while now. What's the big deal?

Personally...I despise the begging. I get no thrill from con-*test*-('")ants begging from tourists or worse, from locals. (don't get me going on begging from your opponents) :wink: A non-elimination round I can deal with...but I can't stand the begging. If there must be a penalty...find another. The begging is pathetic.