Joe,
I like your sense of humor and clarity of thought
+1
It's an interesting question whether the backs will still be restorable in 50 years. I have restored a bunch of old Powerbook 180C, that are more than 20 years old, even have a new battery and an SSD in one of them, and for artistic purposes -writing, notes- the functionality is good.
Edmund
Sometimes Edmund, I have no idea if you are being sincere, but I'll assume you are here.
I think the problem with most is that they do not realize Phase One is in the business of selling cameras, so of course they are going to say they are the best and you need what they have to make a great image. This is not true, sort of, just like my clients do not need great images of their product to sell, sort of.
Of course, for certain types of work, a MFD system will enhance your ability and give you tools you otherwise would not have, but in others, it will greatly hinder your work.
So you really need to be able to understand what you need and buy accordingly.
I love my system, but I made my choose to buy after thorough research and looked at the purchase from the standpoint of a professional, which many here do not since they are not pros. I did not allow my emotions to take hold of me and my viewpoints really came down to the value of my work and how it will help me standout.
(Absolutely, my hobbyist inside wants an IQ3 100, but will it really make my work and business more valuable, probably not.)
So I bought what I needed, a P45+ 5 years after it was released. Not the newest back, but the only one that did long exposures well (at the time), and had enough MP to make client happy (and it still does). I also, from what I heard, was a pretty hard negotiator, and the IQ260 had been announced along with the discontinuation of the P45+ to the dealers (not the public though) during negotiations, which I am sure, unbeknownst to me, helped me get a lower price.
So, moral, don't buy on emotion and have an realistic expectation of what the back will do and the value it will offer and retain.
Personally, if I were to buy a back now, I would get a refurb IQ260 with an XF body, and bitch and moan enough to get the value added warranty of the back to extend onto the camera body as well. (And of course have my tech camera and lenses too
)