As you say, there are obstacles - the biggest one being selection bias. I just saw this on the Ubiquity Networks forums where the dev team for a new router platform missed a pretty big requirement for a carrier class router (MPLS) by initially targeting too narrow a group for feedback. They caught it in the beta stage, but the initial release is pretty baked and it will be interesting to see how long it takes them to recover.
i like Uli's commitment: the X32 is a live console first, and if we can add other stuff to enhance its usability, we will.
Many times products are more valuable for what they leave out than what they have in. Uli is already hinting at more products in the X32 family, so rather than this board trying to be all things to all people why can't this one be the best it can for live sound, another for studio and if demand warrants, another for theater?
Im not saying that's what it ultimately should be, just that we shouldn't be afraid to "think outside the box". Heck, I can see how a supplemental control surface optimized for scene management might be better still - it would enable two person operation more easily among other things. Although a way to quickly save the current scene with one button from anywhere on the board (not having to be in a particular screen on the display - i.e. "blind") would be great.
I do know trying to cram multiple audience requirements into one surface is an easy way to potentially frustrate everyone. And yup, I'm being a little selfish since I need a good live console, and not a studio or theater console - so I don't want to potentially see the live aspects muddled to serve those other requirements
