Hand made vs CNC made "should" be in different categories. Diane does crochet and makes some drop dead beautiful stuff. The work is certainy different. You all know I do my main gig as CNC. I can and I do also make hand made. I just choose CNC because I love to do it.
I don't look at CNC as being in the same category as hand made. Laser scroll work is cool and awesome. Hand made scroll work is cool and awesome. Side by side - not the same at all. I don't think comparing Hand scroll to CNC scroll is a fair competition. It's not about the final result - it's about the process PLUS the final result.
Here in this forum CNC is accepted, but in a crowd of 100,000 people - no, it is not accepted. However it is a growing category that is not yet part of the norm.
Dans piece is GREAT, but it just does not "fit in" with all the hand made items. That is, in my opinion, why it did not place. It's not because it's not good, because it IS good.
Personally I really respect and admire items in each category for what they are, but I cannot look at Hand made vs CNC made as equal. Not that one is better or worst than the other, but each represents a different skill set.
Well, at least that is my humble opinion.