Agreed,
I haven't been around long enough to know about mixer product releases; but in general (tech) it seems nearly all product releases are handled poorly. (too much media hype causing demand causing back-orders and only VIP's seeing/getting/using them.)
That said, I expected the delays and I'll just be patient like all technology releases.
I'm mostly concerned that version 1.01 seems more of a beta than real software. I think this because 1.01 is missing some features from the stated manual.
I'm hoping their software dev & testing teams can crank out a 1.1 or 1.2 within the next few months so we have a stable starting platform with a large number of the stated features.
----
The quick answer is you are not likely to find the 99 cent preamp/AD converter chip to be in the same league as the boutique products.
I didn't understand this from earlier. Isn't this an incorrect/simplistic way of thinking about pre-amps?
The pre-amps & AD converter have long been able to be transparent, the difference is that the boutique pre-amps & AD converters aren't trying to be transparent they are trying to 'sound' a certain 'better' way meaning add harmonic distortion that we find pleasing to the ears.
The other threads on pre-amps have always been about how pre-amps don't really affect the sound. Perhaps the AD converters do?
What about articles like this:
https://www.prosoundweb.com/channels/recording/mixing_digital_to_feel_like_analog1/