Sectional layouts should not be awarded awards for modular layouts. You may as well award home layouts awards for modular layouts. As was said in the description, part of the distinctiveness is the lack of tracks parallel to the front edge. Interfacing with unknown components at the end of a module is a substantial constraint that the awards committee doesn't know about, or has disregarded. 

The following are the rules from the NMRA contest page

I do not see it explicitly called out that modules must be interchangible, but I'm forwarding your post to the NMRA for comment.

Regards,

Charlie Comstock - NMRA PNR 2nd Div Superintendent

Module Contest

SECTION 4. Module Contest Rules

1. Definition – Competitive Event for modules: all entries shall be judged by a team of experienced judges using a point scoring system. There are no written judging guidelines at this time; however, the judge's score sheet provides the factors and the corresponding maximum point scores (see National Contest Judging Guidelines).
2. Module Definition – A small layout which includes supplemental scenery and track work which is designed to attach to and operate with other similar modules.
3. Scale – All scales shall be combined in each of the two categories.
4. Categories – Each entry is placed in a single category as follows:
   1. Module — Individual – A module entry built by an individual person
   2. Module — Group – A module built by a group of people
5. Schedule & Additional Entry Requirements – Since the Module Contest is conducted at the National Train Show, its schedule and entry procedures are different from the other contests. Any changes will be posted.
   1. Filled out forms shall be assembled with the Entry form (#901) on top and attached to the front of the Module being entered, no later than noon on Thursday. You may also drop off Module entry forms at the Convention Contest Room by noon on Wednesday.
   2. If your module is to be set up at another location, you must contact the National Contest Chairman, the Module Contest Chairman, or the Train Show Modular Layout Manager to make arrangements, and you must drop off your entry forms at the Convention Contest Room by noon on Wednesday.
   3. The Contest Staff will pick up the forms Thursday afternoon and leave a "brightly colored" receipt. If you do not receive said receipt by Thursday evening, you must notify the Train Show Office no later than 8:00am on Friday.
   4. Judging starts on Friday at about 8:30am. You need not be present at the time.
   5. The awards ceremony will be held at the Train Show on Saturday morning at approximately 9:30am. Contact the Train Show Office for exact location.
6. Awards
   1. Place Awards – Plaques shall be awarded for first, second and third places in each category based on point scores. Honorable Mention certificates shall be awarded to all models which do not receive a place award but attain a score of 87.5 points or greater.
   2. NMRA Special Awards
      
      1. Best of Show Award – Shall be awarded to the module (individual or group) receiving the highest point score. After selection, the winning module shall be removed from its individual category and the first, second and third place awards reassigned to the remaining modules in that category based on point score.
      2. National Module Contest Chairman’s Award – Shall be chosen by the National Module Contest Chairman for a module displaying exceptional effort and craftsmanship.
   3. Sponsored Special Awards – The awards listed below are those currently slated for the next convention. Because they are sponsored by outside manufacturers specific awards may be added or withdrawn at any time.
      
      1. IHC Pizzazz Award (best overall design)
      2. DPM City Classics Award (best use of DPM structures)
7. Forms
   1. Contest Entry Form (#901)
   2. Module Contest Score Sheet (#903)

'Module Definition – A small layout which includes supplemental scenery and track work which is designed to attach to and operate with other similar modules'

I suppose the question is the definition of modules. If you interpret the rules how you want, then a group of modelers can each build a module and link them together, but in a fixed order. If there is nothing to define the standards of a module, then its open to any combination?

Brian