Phil, James,
I love this monster garage idea. I know we can do this with software. First, we need someone to come up with a specification to do something. Maybe get Zbigniew or John to do a conceptual design. Next, once we have the conceptual, maybe we can collaborate on a architecture, or a family of products to implement the design over many iterations. Then, together we can partition out the detail design work and critique each other a la open source. I know we can do this. My problem is my own logistics. I have already talked with Zbigniew about some ideas he wants to implement. But I will participate to the extent I can while you guys push on.
And by the way James, everybody has to start somewhere. Believe me: there are guys I know who are way sharper than I and it keeps one humble. What I always fall back on is the spectrum - we are all on it. No matter how sharp you are, there is always someone a little sharper, someone who you can learn from, someone who has seen it from a direction you never thought of. What I hope you do, James is keep yourself open. I'm a little older than you and the older I get, it just seems the farther and farther I fall behind. So just keep trying, more heads are better than one. Spirit and enthusiasm, in my humble estimation, are more important to self-professed "genius" and I did not make that up but got that from those whose wisdomand knowledge I respect.
So my word to you, kind sir, is to stay on the path.