I will admit the Contest arcs don't make for the most interesting thing there is, but they are certainly more well thought out than the main plot. Everything about them centers on the myriad of rivals and how they all relate to each other. It's the best sense of character dynamics in the whole show. (I know, not hard for something that barely exists) They are also allowed to have the most character development, though that is more because they must be contained within the generation and everything must be resolved. True, we never see them accomplish their goal, but at least we are given a sense they can do it the next time.
