Glad to hear that everything with you is ok!
I know I’m putting my head on a chopping block here, but I’ll go ahead anyway: To me, the primary use for Legend and its strongest point is the Outliner. It’s (still) the only one with panes, and therefore the only one in which you can manipulate multiple extremely large list(s) by drag and drop quickly and easily. That’s the core IMO. That’s where the focus needs to be. People using email, calendars, and other non-outline type features won’t like it, but those are the things I’d rather do in dediated apps (Thunderbird email and calendar, for example)
Sometimes I think the need for people to have ‘one app to rule them all’ stems from the inability to pass data easily between them. There was a day not long ago when you could drag something between a browser web page and your desktop or into a word processor. Today, every app is either running in browser or emulated environments (I’m looking at you, Legend) that it is nearly impossible to drag and drop data between them. Browsers and their brethren are so locked down for security reasons that their usability is stifled. What is needed is a better “hub” for data, like a clipboard, so you could drag a dated item from a Legend into a Thunderbird calendar. Better ‘glue’ between different apps is the true, holy grail, but this demands common standards, and that’s get more difficult each day as more and more software companies want to lock you into their one system.
I suppose what I’m trying to say here is that I would totally encourage the ‘paring down’ of Legend to the core outliner if it would help support and tighter ‘light features’ being added more quickly. I’m very familiar with the black hole that is software development (it seemed like such a simple idea at the time!) and how difficult it is to escape large feature additions at the same time you’re trying to fix old bugs and add little toys.
I’d also like to bring up (again) the idea of thinning out your free users. I mentioned this before (to the loathing of free users, I’m sure), but even if they don’t cost you much in storage costs, you still need to support their wants, needs, and forum traffic. So, I’ll throw out another modified suggestion to cure all of it:
Severely limit all free users/accounts and their capabilities. While it’s nice to be able to “give away” something, it may be time to realize that it costs you too much in the big picture time-wise, if not storage-cost-wise. Limit free accounts to 60 days. Plenty of time to love the app and purchase, or move on to something else.
Transition all current free users to the new limits, with only 60 days left before they have to pay or move on. Some will sign up (more revenue) and some will leave (less work, and they were never going to become a customer anyway).
Limit the User Forums to Paid Account Users only. Perhaps have a free user ‘Questions about the App’ category on the forums that is handled by other users (not you, Jay). Free users should not be able to post anywhere else. Consider it a ‘paid priviledge’ to contribute to the other forum categories and then forum members can answer questions in that ‘free only’ category for new users. Essential I’m saying that free users should not get support except from other users willing to help. Your time should be paid for with a paid account. That’s more than fair, and pretty standard today.
I know I’d prefer to increase your revenue stream and make it easier for you to focus on Legend, than see you have to mow lawns on the side to break-even.
I’m sure others will have even more to add to my list (or dislike about it), I’m sure. 🙂
