The show has gotten better but they didn't account for the internet messing things up before they got popular...one of the first shows was in Chicago and a member over at Stangnet was with one of the groups...he posted up how the system works...you have the opportunity to buy your car back after the show for like $100, but its changed now that they have sponsors...now they get all kinds of shit to come on.
Seriously why would anyone go on that show and risk losing a car for nothing? You could keep the car and make money with it at the track on the weekend. So they must be getting compensated with something...