Update
Mr Bigda did respond to the e-mail, kind of the way I predicted above (except I predicted in a joking manner):
"Mr. -- My Real name --
Thanks for your interest in Vertex Rail Technologies. You must have seen the recent press release in Railway Age magazine. Before I can answer your questions, I need a couple answered from you as I have had many inquiries regarding the press release and I want to weed out the emails and calls that will or are just going to waste my time. I hope you appreciate the above because I have nda's with the company I have to abide by.
who are you with?
Supplier?
End user?
Where are you from? (State)
I'll send along an nda as that is company policy and once signed, I'll go back, review your questions and answer them.
Thanks,
Dan"
Well, obviously I am not going to sign a legally binding non-disclosure agreement for this, so I am planning to be honest and respond that basically I am asking on behalf of a bunch of rail fans on a railfan board - OK, not exactly worded that way, but because I am neither a supplier, nor an end-user, nor even a legitimate Railroad press reporter, and I am not going to lead Vertex on. Heck, I'm even tempted to mention this thread. At any rate, my response will give him an out, and maybe he'll even mention some details about non-critical items, who knows?
Oh well, it was worth a shot...