I agree with you Hitchy. I 'd personally prefer if all attemps were official. Or that you can choose: train or official (for free, without some sort of sanction) , that would be best. My joy in the official competition would be very much higher. Now I get frustrated and - as was the case with TMF - I probably quit the official competition and play the game with fun in other ways.
I wonder why the developpers choose for these five minutes (or copper pay in TMF). As if it isn't fun when it is for free. For me it is defintely more fun when it is for free!! These limitations irritate me! I perform much better and have much more fun without them. They probably think that it is more exciting and therefore more fun. Perhaps a majority of the players agree with them. Who knows? Do they know? Some sort of poll is perhaps a good idea.
But apart from that: everything is very nice indeed!
And it is an improvement that an official time doesn't cost you any planets.
The ranking page isn't working properly, but I guess the programmers see that too.