Jimi,
this is a very interesting question. There have been times when manufacturers took the "what the client wants/think" approach (not reffering necessarily to cat designs), but this makes me wonder: why on earth do they employ designers that haven't already improved "today's cat designs". I mean: for every boat that comes off the production line - there is a designer behind it - why isn't he doing his job of improving things ?

I think I can speculate on why: they are designed mostly by economists rather then listening to good designers.

Scenario: manufacturer makes a study how to improve designs by asking sailors. They make a list. List goes to designer - works great. Designs goes to financial department. Design goes back to drawing board for modifications. You end up with a boat that hasn't got the "improvements".

Manufacturers (most of them) are lead by profit, the margin of improvement has to be parallel to improvements in manufacturing techniques that makes the design economically feasable. As some of the manufacturers still use technique from the 80' then...how can you really improve?

If we are only reffering to hull design - as long as they do employ designers for that (that probably get paid a lot) why are we to bother thinking about it ? Possible answer :they don't do new designs too often, just "face lifting" models from time to time. "Face lifting" is not an improvement, it is a marketing strategy to sell something old.

I'm not familiar to Hobie or other manufacturers innovation an improvement time table, but we should start analizing it.
Most of the "innovations" and "improvements" out there are much more probably updates of major design flaws.
Can we spot some of those and see if they were marketed updated as major innovations or improvements ?

The best way would probably be to start from scratch. New designer, new model. But major manufacturers will only put as much as little "new" into the boat so they can sell future models as well.

Too long post. Sorry. Got carried away.

Regards,