Andy wrote?

But waiting 5 minutes could screw it up for everyone else.

The 5 minutes comes right from the master, Charlie Spratt. Its an
acknowledgment that some are in trouble, but we're here to race and
race we will. Probably done more as an answer (in advance) to any
potential Parowan type protests that might be lurking out there.

Last day versus first day shouldn't matter if we are trying to do the
fair thing - though I appreciate that the pressure to cut corners to
get a contest in goes up as the number of remaining days goes down.
Some CDs might open the gate with 60 percent of the fleet back on the
ground. You might well get a contest in, but would it be worth it?

See above under, "We're here to race and race we will". If you want to
hold a contest that is completely fair, get the Parowan management
group together and the winner will be decided by the one who wins the
most protests (or prtests to the original protests)!

This has been a good thread and I believe much has been learned,
however I must take my exit now. I'm off to fly a contest where we
don't protest our launch positions!
Love & kisses to all,
JJ