Id be up for a challenge , assuming time etc - I liked the idea for the Lifeforms one, but somehow couldn't make the time to do it.
I wonder how to encourage participation?
as @Inaba said, perhaps making them longer would help.. given the voting windows etc, monthly did seem quite rushed.
also perhaps if the challenge was 'broader', so that it was more likely to be in line with what users are wanting to do anyway i.e. its a motivator to get on with your own project.
Im also not sure about the 'competition' or voting element , some might not want to be 'judged' and frankly the whole voting thing is a hassle ... i didn't care for it much .
I don't know, perhaps something really simple, which is just submit your patches/objects in a bi-monthly 'showcase' where others can just comment etc.
or perhaps something where its a community challenge... rather than individual?!
e.g. we open it up, and users contribute stuff... and other users combine it, and we see what in the month we can create - a collaborative venture.
I think id be much more likely to participate in something like this , since its about working together, and everyone can contribute as little or as much as they like?
(e.g. some might contribute objects, some subpatches, some samples, etc)
overall, id have like to have seen more collaboration/discussion from the challenges, rather than a competition... just listening and playing with patches.
(but I completely accept i could be in the minority on this ... many might like the competitive side 
)
