Our gym has the philosophy that skills matter, not placement, so they have the kids compete the max skills allowed for each level. Of course, since they have to stay at each level for 2 years and basically have the same routines they do end up placing well their second year. We have been to meets where our kids are doing robhsbt, and another gym is doing two cartwheels at silver. The scoring is based off how clean they are, and it is much easier to be clean with a basic routine.
My bronze DD for example does a robhs in her floor pass. The very first meet she panicked since it was a new place, new floor, and ended up doing a ro back extension roll. She scored a 9.6 on floor. She has since put her robhs back in, but has not scored above a 9.1. Sure judging is different meet to meet, but her bhs is no where as clean as the back roll. She still has froggy legs most of the time. But, the gym cares more about her perfecting the bhs than they do about her score, so she has to keep it in.
My silver DD has a full turn on beam. Only a half is required at silver. She lands them all the time in practice. I have never seen her miss one. She has yet to land it at a meet. Her nerves get the better of her. But, since she can do it it stays in. Its not up for discussion with her coaches.
I think it all depends on the gyms philosophy. Our kids also are not suppose to look at scores, and do not get any of their score cards until practice after states. The gym then gives them all of them stapled together.
optionals." 
until next year.
