I think Ridd ...you mistook my words...
I was saying that the neo should have been done...finished...completed ..and shipped long ago for it to be relevant ....as in technologically relevant in a past tense...compared to the hardware specs that exist today...

today ..the neo specs are not comparable...especially not for the projected low estimated cost to the purchaser...

not when (hopefully) the Leste project means one could take their existing n900 and simply run a modern maemo experience...
or ...
take a different device completely (ie: mexus 5, moto, etc) and do likewise...

for the neo...
time was with the project for a span..
but then that window began closing...
as better device specs came about ...
the project lost the advantage when it was at par...
and then slowly time advanced and put the neo behind the eight ball...

Now it simply makes little sense in relation to the alternatives coming...

In this regard the neo project "is what it is.."

whether one wishes to call it a success from the standpoint of "good research which is or will be applied to current or future open source phones" ...as some have said...
is pure speculation until someone posts the direct linkage between this supposed implementation and the neo project.
or
whether one wishes to call it "a known risk and attempt at producing a next gen"
or
whether one wishes to call it purely "a failure to deliver .."

any of the above is purely a personal view at this point...

So...
the situation with the neo project ...
"it is what it is..."
(or to be more acute ...."it was what it was..." ..)

agreed with your other mentions...
Leste on the n900 or other devices ...helps to ensure the continued survival of our OS...
which has been my stated position for years here...
ever before the neo project came about..
... as THE prime imperative for our community ...

the future doesn't look now ...as bleak as it was ...years ago ...
there are other projects that are doing the same...
the movement by ubports, plasma, etc ...to implement linux on devices ...
So in all ...
it isn't as grim as it could be..