Please do tell Ivan hi for me. Tell him also that Ron and I talk about him all the time.
Lasers can still be a success - but it takes innovation. Innovation doesn't necessarily mean technology, it means vision, a feel for the art form, and the ability to step out of the box. Given the space, time and of course the nonexistent money I know that if I brought all my creations to fruition, not only would I make money but would trail-blaze lasers into a whole new direction. That isn't about tooting my own horn ... it's about expressing my love and vision for the art.
Best of luck to you in carrying on the tradition! Love to visit sometime.