a few points for clarification I'll add to the OP:

The tests are meant to be using test currency on a test P2P network.  I don't plan to connect to anything production.  If the test can work by tapping into an existing testnet long enough to get synced, that would be fine.

I want to charge 0.2 BTC to only get serious entrants.  I am happy to donate any excess (beyond my costs to the hosting company and the winner's fee) to the winner.

I do plan to take many screenshots as I go through the testing, and plan to document exactly what I do so others can verify I was not biased, hopefully.

-cheers.

p.s.  I have not rec'd any confirmations yet of folks willing to enter the bake-off (other than Fuserleer's).