Personally I think if production cannons are allowed they will simply win, look at all the different contests over the years, the CNC'd cannons are always in the top 3 and most of the time they win. (electric thermal gun, revolver grenade launcher, etc).
I have noticed this from many websites that I have been on, The people with a lot of money that can CNC parts or spend a good amount of money on parts (huge co2 tanks, awesome regular, huge valve) are generally the ones to win contests. I find it ironic that they are the ones who win therefor win the prize money and already have a lot of money, while the person that tried really hard only to get second place doesn't get the money and clearly needs it. I have confident in making sweet unique cannons(as I have done in the past and currently am.), but If production cannons/ CNC'd cannons were allowed I really would feel like NOT entering the contest.
My favorite cannons are CNC'd, or production cannons, but entering in to a contest that is supposed to support innovation of the average spudfiles member?
look at all of the top 3 cannons from this link:
http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/favorit ... 14711.html
It's what people like, its what I like, but I know if entries like this are included in another contest, I know im not gonna even bother entering.
And I am the one who really wanted an innovation contest from the get go.