First off, thanks a lot for that interesting and detailed post! I'll try to answer in sections so it doesn't become too confusing.
I suppose, though, the point could be made that Kamila's take-off is not a bad one according to the current rules, so there would be no reason to cap the GOE. The judges do have to judge according to the rule book, and the rule book does not penalise a take-off that makes use of rotation of the ice, or the skater transferring their weight back along the blade of the picking foot as they rotate, which Dolfini also critiques in that really interesting and informative video. Thank you for linking to it!
Yes, that point could be made and I'm pretty sure that, if asked to justify their decisions, these judges would give the same reason.
However, it says in the rulebook you listed earlier:
"A clear forward (backward for Axel type jump) take-off will be considered as a downgraded jump. The toe loop is the most commonly cheated on take-off jump."
Now, nowhere does it state that only the toe loop is considered in that rule, just that it's the most commonly cheated jump. However, if you look at Kamila's take-off, she starts rotating even before her toe pick hits the ice. Her picking foot also lifts (and this is where she starts actually rotating in the
air) when her upper body faces
forward. Again, I'm not a technical expert at all and I'm not claiming to be but for me that's very visible. Genuinely asking — did I measure it wrongly? Does she actually not take off facing forward? If so, please correct me.
https://www.another site.com/r/FigureSkating/comments/slpyl7/maximum_prerotation/
I'll just list the another site thread again just so people can check the rotation themselves.
It
is a problem that the ISU never explicitly states how many degrees of prerotation are acceptable (unlike, for example, for URs). Also, their last video on correct jump technique that I found and which actually demonstrates the take off, looks like it was published decades ago…
This thread shows the "correct" take off for flip and lutz according to a DVD (lol) by the ISU. There it's clearly visible that you're supposed to start rotating
after using the toe pick to lift your self into the air. You're not supposed to twist your upper body into the rotation before even hitting the ice with your toe pick. After all, this is still a jump, you're supposed to complete a significant amount of rotations while
in the air, not on the ice.
Now, going very very off topic from Russian women - one of the things I do wonder about, though, is the use of slow motion. Dolfini [edit: or maybe it was Ambesi?] says that the technical panel has the tools to evaluate jumps with the precision that he shows in that video, but the rule book again explicitly states that their review of the take-off must be conducted at real time speed, not slowed down. So while the technology exists, it isn't allowed under the current rules.
I'd say in this case the pre-rotation is visible at real time speed but yes, not using slow-motion makes it a bit harder than it needs to be. Imo, that this is even a thing (slow mo not being allowed) shows probably one of the biggest problems in the ISU currently. They don't utilize the tools available to them. We've seen quite a lot of advancements, it's now possible to measure jump height (helps to evaluate the "good height and length" GOE bullet), speed on landing ("good landing", "flow throughout") etc. etc. At Japanese Nationals, they use a program to judge average speed across the ice, as well as ice coverage. But the ISU is still stuck on not even allowing slow-motion! Why? I have no idea. Maybe it's a cost issue.
Personally, any attempt to reduce subjectivity is welcome. It won't be possible to evaluate categories like "performance" or "interpretation" without some degree of subjectivity, but more technical issues like (pre, under)-rotation really shouldn't be left to the fallible and often biased (it's just how we are) human eye. Or at least not
entirely.
or 
?
. I like how the Americans distribute their silver medal and the Japanese shared their bronze medal. That is a team effort. If Karen Chen placed 3rd and Nathan skated and won the free skate portion, I’d understand them not making any substitutions. But, USA shared the wealth and RUS is guaranteed a gold medal with substitutions. Why not allow others to get a medal. The more the merrier. I’m upset by this decision.
)
