It's unsettling to think the 'crowd sourced' funds for this massive project somehow are to be consumed for the good of the project with nothing to show for us.  We didn't pay an assembly set up fee, we paid an assembly fee.  It's a bizarre business model to take customer funds to prepare for a production run that doesn't mature, then tell customers China can't supply the last part so they're out of luck.  Granted, nonrefundable setup fees are typical with many products--but they're separate fees and the customer commits knowingly.  Meanwhile, the business has what we're led to believe is a nearly complete production line for future customers.  We are now invested in the production line that future customers will pay for a product with lower setup costs (since we already paid for the setup costs).  That could mean more profit for steamboat on future products.

Steamboat made decisions for his business without consulting those who funded his coffers.  If consulted, who knows what we may have decided.  I would have said don't spend our funds preparing for assembly, I'll risk longer assembly time and secure a 100% assembly refund if the deal goes south.  Instead steamboat spent our funds, hoping for the best, which typically is a business expenditure/risk.

It's a solemn situation and I'm not going to make any demands outside of the refund being offered. I imagine steamboat, yufi, BFL and everyone else involved in paying for vapor products has learned a lesson (or ten).  I've submitted full chip and assembly refund requested from batch 5. I'll use the heat sink as a business card holder.

Regardless, thanks for the effort, steamboat, et all.  A monumental attempt was made.