Op wouldn't have a deductible to pay if they didn't have collusion coverage

The people writing the checks were not the ones writing and directing the episodes. Even if Hoff was a producer, doesn't mean he was the final say on budgets and expenses.

The dilation is exponential. The closer you get to c, the higher the dilation factor. With enough energy, from the perspective of the travler you could practically travel anywhere instantly...so long as you didn't mind the rest of the universe moving along without you.

Besides, the participants were literally the warrior class, practicing for war was an important part of proving your value to your liege.