You're part of the UK garrison, so I know the stuff from you guys is always impeccable, but here in KY and TN, we make out costumes to fit us. I know pictures in the members gallery on the main 501st website might not currently reflect that, but you have to look at the age of those pics sometimes. So I don't know where you see an epidemic of ill-fitted costumes, but those should be taken to GML's anyways, as the costumes should fit the wearer.
The people up in arms would be those going for Lancer, of course. And that's the point: Lancer is optional, the basic 501st requirements are what it takes to join the Legion with a particular costume, or for a member to be official with another costume. Raising the stakes to just shy of Lancer takes the option away in a sense and forces it onto people. And I've seen a few people in my neck of the woods who were interested in joining shy away this past week from doing a scout.
Allow me to play devil's advocate then: We go so far in requirements that fat people need not apply for armored costumes, because I'm pretty sure the only "fluffy" (thank you Gabriel Iglesias) characters were the Gammoreans, the guy who raised the Rancor, Dengar, and Jabba himself. Now, we can't do that in the States because of anti-discrimination laws, I'm not sure about elsewhere. So you mention that slippery slope, where do you draw the line?
