Definitely not a waste of time.
1. If the C65 ROM gets open sourced tomorrow, we have several routines we can transplant to improve the original ROMs.
2. This project is not just for Mega65. I really want to have a Kernal for my Ultimate 64 which can talk both JiffyDOS and DolphinDOS without ROM switching, for now ours is the only one capable of doing so. Main problem is the compatibility, which is not too good as of yet.
3. I'm having fun working on it.Also don't forget that the OpenROMs solve the legal uncertainty for emulators to include a working ROM set.
It all depends on the rate of compability.
Besides the own "fun working on it" it could be frustrating, if some people works much on a OpenROM and then 99% of all Mega65 buyers uses the original ROMs because of 100% compabitily. So all the work for the OpenROMs was just for "own fun".
To be clear here: I am talking primarily about having ROMs for emulators to distribute, not the MEGA65.
Of course most people might want to use the genuine ROMs.
That is what I'm trying to say.
I understand the OpenROM affords from your seller point of view. To ship the Mega65 with at least some ROM in a legal way.
... but, yes, if we have no other option, we will at least have SOMETHING to distribute with the MEGA65. This avoids a major potential risk for us, even if people decide for themselves to put original C65 ROMs in the moment they get the machine. The main point is that the machine is at least usable in some way immediately on receiving it.
Compatibility with specific games is actually usually fairly easy to fix, so if we were forced to do it this way (and I don't think that we will be), then we can easily qualify a list of a few hundred games, if required, by testing them and fixing any incompatibilities. Lots of games actually work just fine with the OpenROMs already, last I checked.
LG
Paul.