Just an observation, but I doubt even one percent of 07 SOT holders, past or current, have ever designed anything new, let alone even thought of designing anything new that might fall under the definition of "R&D".A legitimate reason to build or buy a pre or post sample by an 07 is research and development. Everything old is new again. Studying a WWI Maxim or MP18 might reveal an interesting design feature you could incorporate or modify in the new design you were sketching on a napkin. At worst you now know how not to do something.
I would respectfully disagree. I have met a lot of 07 SOT holders and most of them lack the brain cells to even assemble an AR kit. Most of them sub out all their builds to actual builders and a lot of them don't even have the basic tools for welding or machining, let alone the skill to use them.Any idea how many designs for anything make it off paper and into prototype versus the number of balled up papers hitting the trash can? Probably whole forests have given their life to wind up in a landfill due to both professional engineers and amateur inventors trying new (and old) ideas then deciding that was not the way to go.
I've never built a car but teenage Slim sure filled a few notebooks with radical customs back in the day. Surely every 07 has thought once or twice about their idea of a "perfect XXX" even if it never made it into metal. Researching how to bring that idea into reality is part of the process, whether or not it goes into production. I read Car Craft and went to auto shows. 07s buy toys.
