| I only take the nomination part of the ENnies seriously. In the years where I bought everything I know the judges definitely nominated the best products available in the given categories, I bought and read, and often used, those same products.
The actual awards are nothing more than a popularity contest. So I personally pay them no attention, unless a product I liked won. Then I go to the respective companies web site and congratulate them on their win.
As for the podcasts, I went and listened to all of those nominated this past year. They were entertaining, but largely every single one of them had "amateurish" issues, usually bad sound quality, interviewers who mumbled, and were still several steps from what I would call professionally polished.
Now there was one Podcast nominee where I did go to more recent podcasts, and they were definitely improving. The sound wasn't all over the place, the questions and answers were easy to hear, etc... and definitely getting closer to sounding professional.
As for "Favoritism" judging, I doubt it. The good stuff is what gets nominated. Good stuff by default tends to be "favorites". It being good is why it becomes a favorite.
Plus we need to remember the conditions under which these products are judged. They are read. Usually quickly. The judges have far, far from enough time to read and play with these products. They are doing quick and dirty reviews so they can judge them against other products.
They also game during this period, hopefully. I hope they don't have to give up their gaming in order to have time to do the judging. Some of these products will (hopefully) get used during those games. So these judges get to see some things in actual play, but not the vast majority of what they have to judge. This also creates a problem.
So we just have to understand, and accept, that the ENnies Judging is largely a glorified review process that is then turned over to the general on line community for the "Popular Vote", and winners are determined.
So until someone can come up with a system that works better, the ENnies is the best we have available.
As for Podcasts paying a fee, yes they should. Every other print publisher is paying a fee, the 6 books they donate to the process. Podcasters think they should get to submit at no cost to themselves at all? Then accuse the ENnies fo being unfair? Who's demanding the free ride?
If Podacsters are really concerned about fairness then they should be happy to pay some kind of fee, White Wolf, for an example, lost out on the sales of 6 books for Changling alone to be judged. Goodman Games lost out on 6 copies of CAstle White Rock ( a $100 product!!).
Pay up Podcasters, its only fair to the others that you have a cost as well.
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It is the spirit of the game, not the letter of the rules, which is important. NEVER hold to the letter written, nor allow some barracks room lawyer to force quotations from the rule book upon you, IF it goes against the obvious intent of the game. As you hew the line with respect to conformity to major systems and uniformity of play in general, also be certain the game is mastered by you and not by your players. Within the broad parameters give in the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Volumes, YOU are creator and final arbiter. By ordering things as they should be, the game as a WHOLE first, your CAMPAIGN next, and your participants thereafter, you will be playing Advanced Dungeons and Dragons as it was meant to be. May you find as much pleasure in so doing as the rest of us do.
-1E DMG, page 230 | 
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