Maybe what this emerging ecosystem needs is a means by which design-prototype-manufacture-marketing teams can coalesce?

I've been dreaming about such a system for a few years now, perhaps the iron is finally reaching striking temperature...

Even just the first two combined would be amazing. I think what a lot of people are looking for is a start-up style company that offers a simple way of refining a design with industry experts and taking it to some kind of prototype stage within a reasonable cost.

Throwing in manufacturing and marketing expertise also would see an explosion of prospective products looking for a piece of the crowdfunding pie.