If I may throw in my two cents.
I think it is safe for me to say that SF *does* have an active R&D department and as a result there is a myriad of possibilities explored and prototypes are made, evaluated and a "product line" emerges. Much of what is proto'ed doesn't make it to production. Those who recall PK's website have a sense of the depth of R&D and ideas SF has taken in the past in looking at all options.
SF took a heavy hit in criticism for vapor ware as a result of their 2002 catalog and much of this criticism was here on the CPF. It seems clear by their (SF) actions if not words that they have chosen to keep their R&D close to their belts to the extent that they are not pre announcing their intents of new product offerings. I suspect that this is partly due to consideration of competition in a free market; especially with off shore manufacturers who are more than willing to copy anything they have seen, and partly due to the vapor ware stigma.
Many have even stated here on CPF that they don't want to know about something unless they can buy it. There is not an ice cubes chance in He** that SF could please everyone with their disclosure of R&D and new product considerations and it seems to me that they have chosen to go about their business with "no comment".
Some have stated that SF doesn't give a hoot about CPF or what's said and this is evidenced by their lack of participation here. I propose that SF is not indifferent to the thoughts and comments made on a forum based on the love and exploration of illumination tools. As a public forum consisting of some members who understand the nature of the beast in terms of business and market as well as many who haven't a clue as to how business works, I propose that SF as well as most of the other flashlight manufacturers has chosen not to actively participate in public discourse of their business intents.
I state the above as mostly my opinion and not fact. I have seen some of the stuff SF has in R&D and am blown away with the diversity and features I have seen. This was shared in confidence and I have no intent of breaching that confidence. It's hard to keep a secret among friends but this is what one is expected to do on such an occasion.
Klaus mentions hints and teases and I agree that this is childish in a way. However there are other dynamics in play when someone is in the know and not in a position to "spill the beans". As a for instance, I knew a bit ahead of time that the KL4 would be introduced as a complete unit; the L4. When I would see a post where someone was asking for advice such as should they buy an E2e now so they could have a host for the KL4 when it came out, my immediate thought was NO! I can recall on at least one occasion that I think I suggested that someone hold off buying an E2e. I didn't say why and my comments likely came off as strange or hints to having inside information. If you know someone is about to make a likely mistake but know this due to privileged information, do you stand by quietly?
Perhaps it helps to consider that beyond those of us who are active here and feel that we are a community who can be trusted, there are lurkers who have their own agenda and will glean whatever they can from our "open" discourse and use it for their own gain with no intent of returning any favors or honoring any IP that is not legally protected.
I'm pretty sure I had a point in there somewhere but if eludes you as it does me now, forgive this ramble....
- Don
