I took away my vote because:
1. I really do disagree with the extent to which people are using preference as the mitigating factor in their decisions...it's *a* factor, yes, but I still don't think it should be *the* factor, unless it's so neck-and-neck in terms of the arguments for quality, prominence, influence, innovation, and all of those other elements that preference is all you're left with. I do prefer Byron's poetry over Vergil's, but at the same time, I'd be a total liar if I said Byron was more important than Byron...and while I hesitate to say Vergil was "better," if influence and prominence are big factors...then yes, he has to count more than Byron.
I like J.K. Rowling, but there's no way she should've beat Shakespeare. I'm fine with that because, hey, that's the game, and Shakespeare's had TWO chances now, and lost by one each time--lol, he's 1990s Bills of this tournament, the guy who gets a lead and looks promising but can't close the deal!--and he lost to Vergil and J.K. Rowling, both of whom I like, and there's no shame in such close losses.
But Vergil doesn't deserve to lose on such a vote.
2. I also voted in part as a "Well, fine, if my guy loses, I'll vote against the #1 seed" kind of way, and looking back...eh...if it'd been a big Byron win, I wouldn't bother, but as it's only a difference of one vote, I don't want Byron to lose because I decided to be a bit spiteful, albeit playfully.
Way too much thought into that, sure, but still, literature's my life, in a big way...
So I care, even if I should care less. :p
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