Supporting the testing apparatus

[Unome]

disqualify

I would recommend against using this word, purely because of its specific meaning and applicability in SO. But otherwise, I agree that it's likely an event supervisor would just tier you without thinking about it too hard.

[dholdgreve]

I did ask this question last year and I agree with the general consensus so far. The "lowest load scored is the mass of the loading block assembly."

Also there is 3c: "The Tower must support the Loading Block (5.b.i.)"

Last year it was more explicit: (6a - 2016-17) Towers that cannot support the loading block will be scored in tier 4

Given the fact that is wasn't stated explicitly, there may be a case that you don't need to support the loading block assembly. I feel like its too much of a risk to take though. The event supervisors will probably have enough evidence to disqualify your tower.

While I see and understand where you are coming from, the reference in 3c, deals with the construction parameters... how to construct the tower... so that it supports the loading block.
Rule 6b deals specifically with scoring. If it cannot support the loading block assembly, must be scored as tier 4. Now in you most recent example, if it supports the loading block assembly, even for a very short time (arbitrary, I agree... but I'd think a minimum of 1 full second with no hands on it), I'd be inclined to give you the mass of the loading block assembly, since there is no requirement as to how long it must carry any specific load. But if the tower collapses while in the process of releasing the block, then it did not support the assembly.