What are the cost limiting factors to building a new board?

The fact that you have to order them in quantities of at least one thousand pieces I think. That could be a problem since there are only +/- 4000 empegs in total out there, and a lot of owners own two or three of them.

Don't get me wrong, I would also LOVE to see someone taking on this challenge! A new motherboard with all the newest features : gigabit ethernet, firewire/Usb2, digital out, colour LCD, lots of memory, ...
*mmmmmmm*

/me dreams away...