Yes. My experience and judgement is outstanding. But no, I am not a patent attorney. Are you? There is a saying in this country. A man who represents himself has a fool for a client.
But thank you for repeating my point about independent claims. It seems you also think my experience and judgement is outstanding. And you are correct, the broader the independent claim, the more protection you receive from the patent. But that is patent law 101 and completely obvious.
Have you approached the people who run the contest about the alleged copying? Again, why would you come to an anonymous interawebz board to aire your grievances? Festivus was a couple of weeks ago so you are a bit late with that regard.