I am with the ones who say, if you have a beautiful one that does not fit the criteria of judges (curved stem or flower not upright, etc), take it anyway. People will love to see it. We have a People's Choice award. We let the public put a sticker on the tag of their favorite and that person wins a prize because the public liked it best. It is rarely on the Queen's table (judges criteria), just a lovely one that the viewing public likes. I usually do not agree with what the judges choose because I like the pretty ones! I do, however, know what they are looking for.
On the subject of transporting, some people use 2 liter bottles in a crate or tub to hold the iris apart as well as keeping them watered. You really need a van or deep-welled SUV if you take tall plants. Again, transporting is the hardest part.
