[cjfont]

This doesn't seem to be a question of pragmatism -- they're going for a world record, not trying to solve a practical problem. I'm no expert on this, but it seems to me like the criteria for obtaining a world record title would include not modifying the object used. To me this is like trying to beat the record for furthest soccer ball kick by modifying the materials used in the soccer ball.

[Retr0spectrum]

/u/qwerqmaster on reddit:

  According to the Guinness World Record's article[1] the 
  cube has to follow the World Cube Association's 
  regulations[2] on competition legal cubes. The WCA allows 
  modified/custom made cubes as long as they meet a list of 
  guidelines, which this modified cube does.

[1] http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/11/robot-creat...

[2] https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#article-3-...

[Tepix]

Agreed. The holes invalidate their record attempt. It's like drilling channels into a football so you can throw it farther.

[knowaveragejoe]

Not true, see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10970673

[waynecochran]

Or deflating a ball to beat the Colts...

[udev]

How about lubricating the cube so that it rotates faster? Lots of people do that. Would that count as a modification?