Haha. I think that's the way a lot of smaller companies work.
For example, I think the most important questions at ESM is: Does Bryan need it?
Then only secondly- can we make some money on this.
(just teasing---- sort of)
Actually, most of the smaller companies that may or may not employ people full time work by the same standards as the larger ones. From a personal standpoint, the X58 falls in between the eras I model, so for me personally it wasn't a very high priority. But from a business standpoint, it made a lot of sense to do, even with another Pennsy-specific model already in the stable.
The criteria are: is this a model that will attract people's attention; is it a model that another manufacturer won't do simultaneously; and can we make some profit within a reasonable period of time? If you look at the new models being released or announced from the smaller manufacturers, many of them have no ties to the preferred roads of the manufacturers. I have a number of models designed and ready for tool-cutting when funds allow. Only one could be considered having New Haven ties, and it's not anywhere near the front of the list.