On your brisket, I believe you would have helped your apperance scores quite a bit if the slices were 'raised up' in the box rather than being down in the box. The way your box is makes my first look notice not only the brisket but a whole bunch of lettuce. If you take some lettuce bunches and put in the bottom of the box where the brisket will lay to support it up some, and use a little less around the edges, it will make the first look to be the great looking brisket,,,,,,,,
Looking at your scores, I would guess the garnish distracted somewhat from the great looking meat, which more deserves 8's and 9's in my mind...I know judges are instructed to not consider garnish when judging apperance, but I like to make it difficult for them to anyway, by showcasing the meat.
Hope this makes sense..