I doubt that most of you realize what you are asking for. If Jim did all that before release it wouldn't get released until 2010. He needs to pay his bills and eat too.
I think the main question is - is it stable enough, and working well on most everyone's system's?
The issue at hand (for consumers) is not Jim's financial status or amount of endless hard hard hours of work he's spent on the product... though we all like him and wish him the best. The issue at hand is... IS the product ready?
The way I see it, the only major thing that's been changes is the clarity of the reef and 3d objects. Although the resolution is SO much better.... that's the only thing most will see.
When I first bought 2.6, I was shocked at the fish movements because I had also just purchased Dream Aquarium.
Again, I'm NOT trying to be insensitive to Jim's POV.... I'm just looking at the product from a general consumer's POV.