Are the prizes typically what one would expect from a robot society-- upgrades, credits, that sort of thing? I mean, I say this because if they are, Rion wouldn't really care about the prizes but want to participate anyway for the experience.

Also Soujirou is indeed that much of an idiot. :) He'd consider it a good training opportunity, so I guess my question here is would they still let him keep coming back to get his butt kicked?