I can't stand the Time Trials penalties. They need to be there, but why don't they work? I get penalized over simple things, fine. If I cut just barely into a corner strip, penalty, fine, smash into the wall, OK, but why isn't it consistent? You can't possibly tell me it would have been difficult to code it so that ANY contact with ANYTHING that isn't track should result in a penalty. I've slid half a track down a wall backwards by accident, no penalty whatsoever, but as soon as I straighten up and make my way back onto the track, shortcut penalty. You forgetting that big (edited by Moderator) wall I just rode the entire way down? I've smashed into a wall plenty of time and got nothing, but on Daytona at parts where if the car feathers, I mean you didn't even know you made contact, instant 5 seconds. Other areas? Hit it, who cares!
As far as the one that irritates me the most, I stick by the "Next lap invalidated" penality for screwing up close to the start/finish line. Stupidest thing I've ever heard of. Next lap invalid? It's not good enough THIS one is invalid, and the 5 second engine limit you placed on me, but you're going to go so far as to tell me that the next lap is worthless, even though I haven't even begun it? I don't care that it's a simple restart, it's like PD is personally giving me the finger and a nice "(edited by Moderator) you!" for buying the game.
The reason I'm so angry is that, to put it as simple as possible, when you spend this much time in development making sure I can see the reflection of the bird in the air that's about to drop one on my car, I don't see how you're too stupid to implement a penalty system that isn't a penalty in itself. It makes no sense, really. I'd bet 95% of the time it takes to develop this game is spent solely on graphics, and then they forget about these other things that are required to make the game function.
Sorry, I'm a huge GT fan, owned and played every last one of them, but if it isn't sorted out and updated on Prologue before the final version is shipped, you can bet I won't be dealing with the stress of repeating this little saga in a year.