It has been somewhat unfortunate, but not remotely unforeseeable.
The timeline is something like this:
-pitched 2013,
-pre-orders opened 2014,
-2015-2016 backer units started arriving in the field with 30% initial failure rate,
-2016-2017 pre-orders delivered as known-bad devices but with slowly decreasing failure rates and the odd period of robust devices,
-2017-2018 was the pinch point, design changes not accepted by manufacturer - Hopper Labs acquires tech to print heaters,
-2018 HL have limited production as they test their yields and processes, then they move locations in December,
-2019 HL claim they have got production sorted out (which you'd expect has a 1% failure rate, the industry standard [at first they were 30 times worse!]).
Where do things go from here?
Well, at some distant point everyone will have been reissued their devices and eventually there will be a stock-pile of componentry for rapid RMA turn-around.
Then the world will more readily accept cannabis. Then the GH will be even more widely sought after and actually arrive with a good chance of being robust. The unique nature and the expanding industry has been enough to keep them afloat, things will continue to be interesting. No one else has taken on the challenges rounded up by the above timeline or focused properly on the dynamics involved to achieve what the hopper can do.
With the patented heating algorithms and the heater design, the insulated chamber, the size and the energy efficiency, it's easily one of the most awesome gadgets of this generation. And it's all protected under IP law, so it's not exactly a simple process for anyone else to arrive at a decent competitive product. Limitations exist for everyone.
I've been waiting and looking for something that can actually compete with the hopper out of interest, but I've yet to see something that fits the bill. And, 133 days since my extended RMA and 378 days since receiving my latest unit, I'm still clicking and twisting back-ends as nothing else exists to use in its place, and the other vapes I do have are mostly rendered useless by a hopper. I have no regrets, but I've been a little lucky and paid to play a game worth playing.
Compared to the $80 backer units, the new units are many iterations different and on average much, much better. They might still have tweaks to make, but they actually have the ability to implement it.
I feel worse for those who bought the Loto Labs unit from Indiegogo, that was pitched in the same time frame and didn't even come to fruition in a herb vape form.
I feel worse for those who bought the Haze Square, I don't know the details so well, but that was most unfortunate.
I feel worst for those who have reliable vapes but no Grasshopper. Not to say the GH is right for everyone, but it's very good for cannabis and super nice.
