For future development input I will try to contact j0nn9 once again to ask his position.
Without question, we need an updated software release, a fresh thread on bitcointalk.org (or the ability to at least edit the OP) and a couple of mining pools to affirm any new community interest and hashing power.
Aside from independent peer review, I don't envisage many immediate pitfalls in this regard and/or that cannot be solved with a good capable team.
In terms of Bitcoin Core I feel that we could aim for v0.12.1 (without SegWit etc.,) and then cherry-pick somewhat on the way up.
As previously stated the current v0.9.2 Gapcoin release is still doing OK for now.
It's probably advisable to set the following additions in the gapcoin.conf ;
upnp=0
dbcache=256
#dbcache=128 # on low-RAM instances
#paytxfee=0.00006500 # will certainly not break the bank with $1 to $100+ of value.
We know that scaling in the short-term is probably just fine.
...
Provisional date for original dev. response by end August 2018.