FWIW, consider us certain homesteaders and likely eventual customers for some
sort of emulator and/or 3rd-party software enhancement/support.

I don't know much about the relative merits of different approaches, but I'm
inclined to favor PA-risc emulation, because I *guess* it would be more likely
to work completely for us.  Our software does so many unusual tricks that I
fear there may be lots of room for a 99% solution to emulating the OS &
utilities that would work for other sites but not for us.  Our hardware, by
contrast, is so plain-vanilla that any lame-ass device virtualization that
manages to escape from the lab will probably be fine.  (Picturing a
donkey-like creature evading the outstretched arms of the lab techs and making
a break for the door).

But don't count on us to sign the dotted line before there is a product and
some test results.  Also, don't expect us to donate to the cause beforehand.
Top management doesn't think like that and it just isn't gonna happen even if
I want it too.  So, if potential developers wait for us to commit before they
develop, and we wait for them to have a proven product before we commit....

PS
Of the several things I can imagine that might eventually kill off our
homesteading I think the likeliest to strike first would be my eventual
retirement, so the MPE job market may not strictly speaking be 100% dead.  One
or two lucky diehards may eventually find refuge here, just don't hold your
breath.

Dave Powell,  MMfab