Sula, rants abound around here, both pro and con.  The nature of Rick's is simple - he just wants to finally see the optical interposer completed in commercially saleable form.  At least that's what I glean from his particular "rant." 

Your comment, "On this basis Rick's pessimism is unfounded if POETS make or break project slips one quarter."

Agree 100%, so long as you're correct on "one quarter."  That's been the rub all along - it's always materially longer than earlier anticipated and the quarters add up.  Extra patience required, no doubt.

If successfully completed before someone else scoops us, then it will have well worth waiting for.  Those more impatient of us (the gambler types) just want to find out - do we have a come from behind winner or just another loser?