Both of these contests also featured a vocal performance competition open to amateurs only and the AMSF had a separate contest for lyrics only, where no distinction was made between Professionals and Amateurs. The final point that I want to make is that practicing performers or even those who have recorded their own CDs have had any better showing in this contest than anyone else. Some like Gran Torino and a few others who have released CDs and who appear to have professionally produced demos have done well, but so have many like and Carl Gregory and numerous others who have admitted to making their demos on four tracks at home. Moreover, very few of the songs that I have listened to by Forum Members show any exceptional quality in their production regardless of how they were produced. So giving up means nothing more than admitting you don't want it badly enough to persevere.
Winners never quit, and quitters never win.