Like your suggestions.
I think they should involve the viewers, like many reality shows do now... and let the public vote on certain things. It keeps viewers involved in the show longer (less channel flipping). And you're right somewhat about it being okay if the challenges are dorky - however, that first one just made the show look so low budget. At least the one with the suits, well, showed those cool SUITS with the RR logo on them. After seeing this though, I've got faith that they got a lot of things right and it'll only get better from here.
by the way, who was the cougar in the flight suit they initially showed in the line up? I saw her in the pics on the website too... wonder if that's Shaefer's wife or something, LOL.
And last, just curious cuz I'm pretty new to THIS board on iHub, is Shark an iHub guy?
C7