Hum, maybe not a contest because the word "contest" make people go crazy about rule and law and in the end it became a mess, just an Handpaint Monthly Art Jam. That way, it allows people to do whatever they want and learn about technique. I'm all about the "meh baking AO on zbrush is cheating blabla" but that's the fast…
process will always be debated, but when I hear 'hand painted' I think just that, 'hand painted from nothing.' Afterall, a 'hand painted portrait' is not a 'black and white photo with colorized layers over it.' (I'm simplifying it for sure, but just making an example)