I, for one, find it extremely odd that the people associated with this project are always absent from these posts. That sends me a bad message.
I know the first run of XR-? blocks was to be machined January of 2008, with the release to follow soon after.
I'm not bashing anybody or trying to stir the crap but, I'd think those involved would address these XR posts and at least keep interested parties up to date on their progress, or lack thereof.