This is the first proven case I know of where the bidding spurred us on to new heights.
I was "finished" at 1970 with nudger3, until KuzyaHG's bid of 1973 made me look for more.
And my 1975 bid made him find the same 1980 solution.
As for breaking the tie: I think KuzyaHG deserves the win.
- KuzyaHG was "on the right track" with his 1970 and 1974 solutions, using the same principle as the final 1980 solutions
I had to switch concept to find it.
- KuzyaHG's 1980 is "cleaner", getting the green dillo fully into his portal before grey has vanished.
Mine lives more dangerously, with grey disappearing before green is home, but with green just far enough over for him to drop into the green portal.
As such I think his solution is "better".
The two solutions generate very similar behaviour, although surprisingly the single plate is positioned significantly differently.
So while the bidding made me chase after him, ultimately I think he had the better challenge.