Ah yeah. Understandable
The big point for me is that everyone likes to “do better.” But as a wise mentor once told me, the most important part of “doing better” is the doing.
Going to a tournament to watch can be interesting and you’ll learn some things. But by “doing” it instead of watching it, you’ll learn things you never knew you were missing. So entering a tournament as a beginning team with a functioning robot is way, way better than just watching. I remember how at the first team meeting following that first tournament, the coach filled the board with “lesson’s learned.” Hearing “battery management” while watching people change out batteries at a tournament is one thing. But running back to the pit because the robot won’t go and you’re in the queue to take the fields and nobody can tell which battery they used last…that drives it home.
Time management.
Reading a VEX qualifying schedule.
Waiting in the Pits to talk to judges
Scouting alliance partners
Scouting opponents
Making sure everybody stays hydrated and nobody gets “Hangry”
Learning when, and when not to change the code in the robot
Learning never, ever, to make changes without having multiple backups
The coach and the team had discussed some of this before the big day. But nothing drives it home like doing it. You can’t learn that while watching, you have to do it. A clawbot will get you all of that.
100% this
Technically, the battery is dead. It wouldn’t drive at all. 
I’d also say it depends on the level of students in your program. If this is their absolute first experience with putting things together, doing anything “custom” is going to be a bit overwhelming. Building a clawbot with instructions and everything is a good confidence builder towards being comfortable with making things with VEX parts. From there they can analyze how lifts, drivetrains, chassis, and to some degree programming works and suggest modifications to make it better. After the clawbot it’s a good chance to show the students the other parts they have to work with that wasn’t part of the clawbot kit to help start the discussion on modifications. There’s no rush to compete, but I definitely DO recommend that they compete the first year. The experience is invaluable.
Indeed!