Second, it doesn't take a literary degree from Harvard to figure out we've been further diluted to the tune of $10M USD because they can't figure out the laser

I really don't think it's because 'they can't figure it out'. Let's remember they have figured it out in the lab. What has happened is, they can't optimise it in the fab due to constraints, outside of their control. They now have that control and we move forward. 

They are in the process of optimising it and that's taking a while. To suggest they're struggling to figure it out, is ignoring everything management has said. No "show stoppers have been encountered", is what I remember them saying.