Bruce,
Your idea of having users underwrite specific improvements in AC has been floated before. I happen to like it. Unfortunately, Jon B does not. I didn't spend the time to search the board, but I know he has responded negatively about the idea here. One quote from Jon in 2009 is "unfortunately, throwing programmers at the problem doesn't work (I've tried this). Having a feature doesn't make it usable". Just a couple of weeks ago I heard the idea proposed to him again, and he was equally unenthusiastic. It just doesn't seem to fit with his idea of how the program and company should develop.
