Please do not judge strictly :) I'm a beginner iOS developer with just 3 months of experience. That's my first open source project. Any feedback are more than welcome.
Since I applying for this round YC, we came up with new amazing idea. I agree that our first time application was poor, it was just an idea without working beta. I'm sure that we should increase our efficiency, it doesn't mean that should work harder. Just more efficiency!
I fully agree with idea to build your product as long as possible without 3rd party's help. As for me, I don't think that's the bad idea to apply for this YC round. Why not to try? Valley is briliant place for startup to be, for meeting with awesome people.... why not?