Matt, I agree with what you say.
I think racing gear is darwinistic in its nature. If T-foils are faster, we will see them on more and more boats and at our larger events. If they are not faster, or faster only in some conditions, they will not make it.
Darwinism is based on mutation, and the T-foils certainly are a mutation. If the mutation gives advantages, it will survive, if not it dies. However, if the mutation gives a real advantage, the species with this mutation will do much better in the competition. That's the logic behind the GC comment. Somebody gets it right and launch it in our faces at a GC. Odds are against it, but you never know. Ben Hall tried it at Islamorada with his wing, while the Boulogne brothers won an F-18 worlds in 2003 with their square top main (at least I think that was a big part of why they won). Same for the swedes final position at the 2002 Tornado worlds in Marthas vineyard with their then radically flat spi, which now are the class standard. Sorry for being long winded..

Looking forward to see what Robi has to say on what Timbo asked. I assume Robi is looking for the best possible boat within budget?