Why do you talk in absolutes? You know damn well that we all learn something everyday and there are new skills, techniques, products that hit competition bbq every year. If everybody only used the 6 things they thought were winning it would be extremely boring. I am the guy that will walk my own path just for the challenge and fun of it. Hell, I am using a local bbq sauce that I can say with 100% nobody else is using in competition bbq - just for the fun of it! Have I GC'd yet? Nope, but I am proving myself with quick, steady, improvement over my first 10 competitions and I am closer to my first GC now than if I was just trying to mimic somebody else IMO.