Bill,
I don't think it's the player that needs to be created as much as a standard show playback format that ANY player could play. If all laser show creation software was able to output a standard file format that encapsulates all of the frames and music in one tidy package (or at least references them as external files) then just think of the number of shows people would be able to play.
Right now you guys have your own show formats, MediaLas and Showtacle have theirs... I am not even sure of all of the other companies... then there's the free stuff like PopelScan that has their own format. Between the lot of us on this forum we probably have created several different shows and we can't share them because our software isn't compatible. A lot of us can play ILDA files and that's great but we all can export our shows to ILDA.
I'm not saying that you or any other company should abandon your own formats, especially if your hardware can do onboard processing, but it sure would be nice if there was a common file format for export when desired, even if in some cases some of the company specific features were lost in the export.
I can't really name a cost because I am not asking for any hardware or software package. I'm just asking for a standard file format that all software can produce and play.
But, if I had it my way, each and every DAC sold would come with some sort of player software that could simply play back a show (in the new standard show format) that had already been created. Or, maybe just a simple driver - then different people could create their own players if they wanted. Then, if companies want to sell show creation software then thats fine and dandy. They could make it generic so it simply outputs the new standard format and would play on any hardware - or they could save in their own format that will only work on their own hardware (for security purposes or whatever.)
Anyway, those are my ideas. You are in a better position to know whether or not what I say makes sense or not since you live it. But, I'd like to hear your opinion. Obviously I am coming at this more from the hobbyist point of view and I am guessing that you don't make any money from us. But, it seems like there could be a way to support us without having to really do too much.
Also, I'll be in Orlando Jan 23-Jan 26. The only free time I have is the morning of Jan 24th. If you'll be around I'd love to drop by and chat for a bit and see your stuff. I'd wouldn't expect much - even 15 minutes would be nice. And if you don't have the time that's ok, too.