I think they had/have a plan, just a little slow to materialize. I actually appreciate your point of view, but probably is as accurate as mine or anyone else's that can only be based on perception/speculation.
The truth? I can't handle the truth! It's still to early in the game to know the whinners.
Rick, ESC hold the patents. That is not a point of view, perception or opinion. The structure of ESG, EM, is not an accident. It is a control plan. ESG have no skin in the EM game. They are taking the skins out daily. This has worked very well on 40,000 dreamers and millions more before them in other promotions. For me, once I understood the structure, the prudent thing to do was wait and see if ESG can pull it off, build a car by using EM as an empty bag. Then in 2 months after the bugs are worked out and the dreamers are fed, buy one. I am very happy there are 40,000 dreamers, but it may take 400,000 to get the Elio into production? No one seems to want to give $300M with no strings attached, based of 40,000 non-binding purchase contracts. .
In the meantime, I enjoy my $5000 Miata every day, while I can easily sell it if the time comes. Use a can opener on an Elio and have my boat-top buddy build me an insulated winter roof. Thereby enjoying the Elio to the fullest. My sole concern is getting too old to drive or dying before this happens.