As, I said, I get it. I totally understand the bigger picture strategy and all of the potential reasons people play elsewhere.
For me it’s an academic discussion, I don’t travel out of state. But if I did, I personally would want another Florida trophy in the cabinet, not a trophy from some other state, unless that’s where I live/spend most of my time.
And if I don’t win, I want the winner to be one of my Florida friends/family.
By the same token, I find it odd when people I expect to play against play elsewhere.
Last example: Hypothetically, if Atticus and I qualified in multiple states, one strategy could be to play in different locations to gives us more chances and potentially face off at nationals. However, that would just look weird to a lot of people, especially in Florida if we did that, but to the strategic planners, they might get it.
To us, if the goal were to face off, we feel it should be done at home state.
(Still trying to catch up to Atticus-Maybe this year! Him being committed to a double major is giving the old man a chance!)