Characters of the past year eliminates me...  Perhaps just characters available from Rendo.  (I am sure they don't mind you buying an old or new character)  I don't have any new characters...you get to the point where youneed to say, "I got enough characters, fo goodness sake"  ;-)

You could have...evening gown, portrait and swimsuit for each entry. 

Talent?  ...meh  :)

Quote - Rendo's not gonna do that...lol.

For one, it'd be pitting vendors against each other no matter how ya slice it. And vendors who's product may very well still be in the store.

Huh?  Couldn't every render contest be considered pitting vendor products versus another...?  A good artist can make just about any vendor product look awesome.