You're wrong about one key point - judges in policy debate are allowed to use whatever decision-making framework they want. They don't have to consider a droppe

You're wrong about one key point - judges in policy debate are allowed to use whatever decision-making framework they want. They don't have to consider a dropped argument valid. But most do, because the point of policy debate is not to wax poetic about your beliefs in a passionate attempt to persuade others, but rather to play a highly technical game against challenging opponents. I never liked the alternate forms of debate that attempt to re-create some golden era of slow talking persuasion because the decisions made are often arbitrary. I prefer a value-neutral environment where I can be assured a more objective basis for judgement.