Yeah, the updates are much appreciated Wayne. I like hearing from the man, but I know that he updates us at each important step in the process already, so even if he did spend more time here we wouldn't be getting any more information than he already gives us. Having you as a go between keeps us updated on the "half steps."
Hopefully redeye'll have enough info to warrant an update soon. Maybe this one will have an ETA that is less of a guess and more of an estimate. Before designs are finalized, ETAs can't be taken seriously what-so-ever as production schedules are much easier to plot than the designing process. You never know what kind of new bombshell idea will crop up and require modifications to the rest of the design. Each new awesome idea takes time to not only conceive, but to utilize in the rest of the design. Finalizing the design of anything is sort of nerve wracking. I, for one, keep thinking, "Is there anything I am missing here? What if I finalize this today, spend the afternoon ordering parts, only to have an epiphany later tonight that would radically improve the values of the product. Would I be able to cancel the orders I've already made?" (not to mention the TIME it requires to cancel orders....and then make new ones after the prints have been updated). I feel for the guy right now. Looking at his other products one can tell he has a passion for the craft, and with passion often comes stress. Folks that have said "it'll be worth every red cent," are only half correct. I feel that he, like many others, often sell themselves short on the value of the intellectual process it requires to get a project like this through to fruition, in other words, it'll be a huge bargain.
I hope you are taking care of yourself redeye. I don't know you on a personal level, but your mod played a huge part in getting me off the cancer sticks, and for that you have my good wishes.