3-4 years of talking with people that had them already, reading all the threads i could find about the different front ends out at the time for real world feedback and talking with bill at RMS to understand it a little better. so yes i had a ton of information so i could make an informed decision on a product that was already out being used on the street and track..
like i said. it isn't going to be me that is going to be doing their R&D for them. as much as i want a 5 or 6 speed i will wait wait a few years for real world feedback from actual users before i myself pull the trigger on any of those new ones coming out. good luck to anyone that wants to be their guinea pig by being first in line.