I would prefer that the arguments presented are not conditional and focus on the substantive issues raised by the topic. Given the negative tilt to this topic, I ve left a lot of debates thinking the affirmative should have extended conditionality. I am generally predisposed toward the affirmative when assessing a topicality argument.
Net benefit is an acceptable standard of competi tiveness.
Mutual exclusivity is in some senses a subset of net benefits. At times it has been difficult to calibrate the degree of net benefit associated with a disadvantage which, at first glance, seems to impact the counterplan. As a caveat, I realize that the presentation of new cases puts even the well researched negative team at a disadvantage. In this instance I am more restrictive on the topicality and counterplan burdens the affirmative must meet. I look first to the link arguments when assessing disadvantages.