I think maybe you have a fair point that a lot of games are not the highest quality, but I think the relaxed rules encourage people to submit who maybe would have been a bit scared to do so for a bigger jam like Ludum Dare. So probably a lot of young/inexperienced people, or those getting something done for the first time. Sometimes getting something a bit crappy out there and having a few people play it can mean a lot if you've never done it before, so I'm happy to help with that!
I think there are a lot of jams out there that are much stricter with the rules, so I always felt I wanted this one to be more relaxed. Maybe that translates to more half-finished things, experiments, toys and betas etc? I don't think I necessarily mind though, as quite a few people have said "I didn't get it finished by I got further than I ever have before". I would call that a win.
I'd like to keep doing this jam, but I am more interested in it helping people to get motivated and achieve something, rather than it becoming a well known or big thing. Not sure if that is noble or naive, but either way it probably means that the games won't all be amazing, and we maybe need to be a bit lenient when judging.
Viewing post in Not a lot of FINISHED games here...?
Here, here.
This jam is my first and really motivated me to get an MVP together. It's not 'finished-finished' but it is complete in itself. It has an end state and works most of the time. It's more the MVP that I'm proud of - that is to say, not finishing per se, but what I managed to leave out. The jam made me focus on creating an end level instead of voice acting and music. It's a tough trade but it meant I could show off a 'finished' game. I'd still be waiting for inspiration and health to align otherwise and the game, or demo if you like, may never get done.