Hey "DougB',
You have rightly said;
I am not sure that it is fair, or wise, to compare what Mensys is doing with eCS, to what IBM did with OS/2, years ago, when they were just starting the project. Mensys has far fewer people, and other resources, to work with, than IBM had. I think that the Mensys people are doing a pretty good job of getting eCS to install, and work, on newer hardware, but, unfortunately, they cannot do everything, nor can they test every possible combination of hardware (even IBM wouldn't be able to do that now)......
Like you, there is that feeling that there is no justification for having users around the world wait for years on end (on one company, unlike the cases with the Open Source communities) only to read about the demise of companies Indelible Blue et al. Geez... there are lots of college age as well as college graduates in the United States of America (and, perhaps in many other parts of the world) who cannot find employment and yet we are here talking about a company like "Mensys" having
far fewer people, and other resources, to work with, than IBM had.
There is a simple solution - Develop strategies (in collaboration with the universities....) to hire more of these college graduates (possible - the best-of-breed) from around the world to do some of the development and testing of the products.
And, these are some of the things we would do as a company. What do you think about that!

There is a saying that "many hands make lighter/easier work". And, this is what was meant by "wide participation".

Also, it is sincerely believed was the intention of the "Petition" to IBM for the open-sourcing of the OS/2 Source-Codes.
Best regards.
SAB