Hi all,
I'm new here, basically because of I just bought my "new"-first Nokia N900. I always wanted to give it a try.. And finally it's happening. I'm still waiting for it to be dispatched.

I must start by saying that I've read this thread up until the page #10. I'll keep reading the others, but I would like to post here some thoughts before I actually forgot them! : )
I don't want to be arrogant or insolent, just express what I think in my honest opinion!

I think that, in order to make this project real, you must reach a greater public. There are two current ways - I think - in order to achieve this.. 1) A marketing campaign 2) Introduce in the market something different.

Whilst the first option is out from "your" possibilities, the latter one can easily be done.
You said you are not going to dramatically change the design of the reference board - namely GTA04 - even though some of the current members here said they would spend lots of money into this project only if it will be packed with 1Gb of RAM. (Just as example)
A part from the fact that you are already loosing some possible customer (I'm an economist, or well, I'm studying economics.. So I do not understand a lot about PCB design; but i truly trust you when you say it is very problematic to do it in order to maintain up this OS), but you are also fastening this upcoming Neo900 to a less "bright" future..
Or better.. A nowadays smartphone must be responsible (It's up to the phone maker whereas to pack highend hw or to well-tune the sw) and most of all usable..

So, since the GTA04 will be one day - I dunno know when - update.. Why not start to thinking about it from now?
So.. You can currently start with some Neo900 for developers to start porting Maemo to the new hw.. and in the same time start working on the new mainboard. Even for what concern the CPU..

A drawback I would say about the N900 is the combination of its characteristic UI and the "little" screen.. Since it has not been made to be used completely/exclusively with fingers (but with the help of the sharp-pointed stick [what's its current name???]) you must use it with two hands.. And it makes it really difficult to use it with just one hand..
I want to highlight that i'm still waiting to receive mi fist N900, so I'm just guessing; but why not thinking about a new/bigger screen?
This will allows you to insert some more hw components into the case (that in this case will need to be re-design) and also a new battery.. Lots of people would like to have a hwkeyboarded device with tons of juice to power it).
And you can also think about adopting some other reference designed device (Palm/HP Pre 3 is outstanding for physical usability and build quality).

Another options that could help to achieve a far away bigger audience.. VHF/UHF radios.. Have any ideas of how many amateur radio operator would like to have such a feature on a daily usable smartphone?

And what about the ecosystem? The idea around the Ubuntu Edge was the possibility to have just one device that can be both used as a mobile device and a "portable" device which - at the necessity - can be turned into a PC.
It would be a nice idea to start thinking about something like this..
It would reach more people outside from this niche... Even because here you have a lot of N9 users.. that are gradually shifting to Jolla.. And who's probably looking at other opensource OS..

Never though about joining up more communities? If - as you wanna do - joining up Maemo.org and Openmoko community could help both of them.. Why not including some other little communities that can help out with this..
You'll have more possible customers.. More developers.. more testers.. etc.

I really understand that including these features is problably not the aim of your project.. but.. If i have to spend 400€ for a phone.. I would like it to last for some years..! : )

Now i must conclude because I'm probably out of topic..
I am so so sorry if I wrote this "piece" in a non-pretty way.. But English is not my mother language!
Cheers for Italy - Helping you out spreading this project and looking forward for further infos : )
L.
: )