I'd gained the impression that this product's long term development is iterative. Thus while we get the 16 core boards as specified, we also feed back our experience to the Adapteva guys, in addition to each other. That would be true even if one didn't select an early take-up pledge. I also sense that the Adapteva crew are happy that they actually found some market at all ( last minute cliffhanger aside! ), with the bonus that said participants are willing to do 'field' testing too. A great deal all around. But we ought moderate our haste, though not our enthusiasm.
Cheers, Mike.