I'd say we should all wait till we see what's in the challenge registration form, where they are actually supposed to reveal exactly what those $10k buys them.
One application doesn't mean much. It can be something huge. It can be something that needs something that wine nowhere near implements. And so on...
If they're willing to pay someone $10k then either it's not such a trivial job, or their VCs want some sort of demonstration and the SpecOpS people just don't have enough expertise.
Or it's all just blown out of proportion with $10k being way more than good compensation for the work involved, but someone clueless enough having $10k to toss around.
Maybe it's just worth for some wine hackers to register and see what comes out of it.
Perhaps its some sort of hiring test. Well, we will see.
Ciao, Marcus