Being able to compress well is closely related to intelligence as explained below. While intelligence is a slippery concept, file sizes are hard numbers. Wikipedia is an extensive snapshot of Human Knowledge. If you can compress the first 100MB of Wikipedia better than your predecessors, you(r compressor) likely has to be smart(er). The intention of this prize is to encourage development of intelligent compressors/programs.

a piece of software, i would be buggy as hell. - but that's ok. ätsch.

james shore has written a change diary about his programming experience. it's about communication, location, trying to introduce xp, getting grumpy, being under pressure, wastefull meetings and making mistakes: he also admits the problem of arrogance and hierarchy.

flogging isn't a technique you admit to.

i still believe that for a team it is important that everyone has and keeps the feeling to be allowed to learn new things, be able to develope new perspectives and not be forced to stick in a matrix. maybe in this environment it is even easier for a newby to get through with his ideas without being seen as an intruder as the people are used to discuss and question habits and methods; and - most importantly - in this kind of environment mistakes are more often released from bad connotation.