Have settled on a launch date for the crowdfunding campaign:
Independence Day, July 3, 2015
Yes, we will have a new day of Independence on July 3...not 4, but 3.
I'll be running my own campaign website, and bypass the crowdfunding gatekeepers. They really add no value to the proposition and just get in the way with their limitations.
What I would like to offer for those who want to support the effort at a low dollar amount is the idea of a 'discount coupon' on a complete kit in the future. The real key, a coupon is marketable/transferable. So it will give actual financial rewards for anyone buying in early. For example, a $50 coupon would give you $500 off the current kit price. And so once the campaign ends, that $50 coupon could be worth $500 which you could sell it to someone else for whatever reason.
I appreciate any feedback on this idea.