IMHO, Mr. Anderson has been pursuing a good path. Hardware production and development requires deep pockets and an efficient supply chain. DJI is, and was much too abundantly capitalized and well positioned to compete with. But Americans adapt and innovate. That is what 3DR has done.
I was flying alongside a nice fellow with a Mavik yesterday. What I got in my own head is that the aftermarket Solo community is trying to catch up to ground up, superior systems with a very outdated fundamental architecture.
I'm reminded of when I was about twenty, I had just bought a VW bug new and i fell in love with it. So, as love would have it, over the next few years, I had my head into every after market mod I could get my hands on. I did EVERYTHING to that bug. I overhauled the engine twice, just to make it a better engine. After about 4 years, (When I finally paid it off) I realized that although I learned a whole heck of a lot, I had spent enough money and time(as money), to buy a completely cool sports car instead of the unreal VW which was always gonna be a VW.. Albeit, a very cool one.
I guess I could say that i've been to this rodeo before. As basically an old guy,(supposedly smarter) I need to quit fooling myself, (falling in love) save some money, and move to more capable ground/up platform. By this time next year, there'll be another bad ass, cheaper than ever drone in the marketplace.
I'm thinking that I've learned enough about UAVs to be a better informed consumer.
There are fantastic and wonderful innovations being invented and produced for the Solo, but Solo remains a Solo with every gadget and mod tacked on. These innovations are going to be going to UAVs that are designed right from the drawing board to integrate those capabilities, in smaller, lighter and cheaper products. Its been happening, and it will continue to happen in an exponential growth pattern.
We bleed, we feed, they lead.
I have learned quite a lot though... a lot
(Certainly, there's something to be said for that.)