@eric Your solution is 100% intended. Nice job!
Yes, I had a feeling that with all the pickups that are in the level that it would make it easier than usual. However, at some point, because Armani kept backrouting the level so much I kind of was "screw it, I'm not going to take any more risks by not making more skills pickups." IMO, the intended solution is just too cool to adapt any other. I really love the sense of urgency at the very beginning, and I'm quite amazed that I was able to figure out the right number of lemmings to provide nearly on my first attempt too before the start becomes a problem and the solution wouldn't work. 20 was just the right amount split among 5 entrances and the 3 preplaced lemmings. I also like how you can get the same number of lemmings for each exit.
However, now that you mentioned it, I might be able to return it to its former difficulty by removing some pickups and applying other fixes. I'll need to think about it some more, or if I decide it's not worth the hassle, I'll just leave it be, particularly since it's always risky to revert changes after the intended solution has finally been enforced in the most recent version.
So as far as the your 3 LDC levels, to me from easiest to hardest were
1) Rule 2 (liked this music the best of the 3)
2) Rule 3 (liked the design the best of the 3)
3) Rule 1 (liked the tricks used the best of the 3)
It took me probably the longest to actually do your Rule 1 once it got patched, due to a few tricks in the level(also due to no pickups-which does sometimes give solutions away)
Wow, that's awesome that I managed a separate "best" category for each of my contest levels in your view. I think so far the only replays I've gotten are from you, Armani, and Crane. I've also gotten replays from Flopsy (for R1) and WillLem (R2), but they were unfortunately backroutes. Because of this, I actually don't have too much data/info on the difficulty of my levels, especially my R2 and R3. So far, everyone's saying that my R1 is a hard level, but that's because more people have tried my R1 than my other two contest levels so far. I definitely be happy if others can play my levels, as I'm always looking for ways to improve, particularly since these are the very first levels I have ever made. Of course, I understand how busy everyone else, and hence there's no rush to get to these levels ASAP. Really all I (or any of us, really) can hope for is that people play them and send/give me replays/feedback, but no one is forced to play any of these levels.
Thanks again for playing, the replays/feedback, and for your kind words/compliments!