If Bitcoins turn out not to be profitable is the pool willing to consider mining other SHA256 based coins? Do we get to choose where our hashing power is directed?
ASICS can't do SHA256 currently
ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit
Companies like ButterflyLabs and Avalon and ASICMiner are making working ASICS with the exception of ButterflyLabs. They do exist and do work currently