making the cup bigger... Hmmm, you might have a point. OTOH, the volume of medium and root ball is the same, just the delivery of nutes is changed. Maybe automatic irrigation ain't fair due to the volume of available nutes? The judges of the grow offs may have to consider all this at some point. If I join one, that is. I'm not really here to compete, so I am unconcerned one way or the other.
Happy soloing peeps, however you deliver yer nutes!