Perry,
Man, your way quicker than I am, I haven't even cracked that document, other than to see it was 350 pages, or so. Maybe today and I hoping there is some interesting math in that it is a thesis, I'd like to expand and cross-check my spread-sheets.
I feel your Windtamer turn off, I'm annoyed at all companies over-selling their good points, and hiding their bad points, I know it's only "good marketing", but to me, it seems without some honest balance the practice is at best deceitful, at worst akin to lying.
From a commercial stand point I understand the notion of chasing a couple points of efficiency, but from a DIY standpoint I agree with your cost and complexity analysis; I have the Dans book, therefore a "tried and true" way to go, but the more I figure out why an idea the won't work, seems to strengthen ideas that do.
FYI, a guy named Ken Forman who I think was on the original Grumman team, I think now also consults with Derek Grant Phillips, the guy who wrote that thesis. These two guys think they're on to something, whether that something will ever have any DIY application is unclear, but I agree, that's the fun.
Thanks for the feedback.
Curbie