Hi LAJ, thank you for linking that really interesting video about the decision-finding for purchasing that certain grand piano. BTW, do you know, if the shown YAMAHA CFX is that very instrument, which was used for the GARRITAN CFX?
Pity that STUART & SONS are not so well known outside of Australia. Their 290 full concert grand sounds unbelievable, like from another world. But... not a reproducing piano and therefore not remotely accessible.
Although, there could be a serious (!) possibility to "fix" this problem for ALL acoustic grands! With this solution it could be possible to "install" a remote controllability and have a precisely programmable key stroke literally in a minute, of course without a pianist: The system-technology operates on the "Live Performance LX" reproducing system from Wayne Stahnke, which is now used in the STEINWAY SPIRIO. It's called "ARPEGGIO" the "Piano SuperDroid", the worlds first "Piano Playing Robot" from "Majestic Piano Works". It's inventor is Nick Morris: http://pianosoftware.com/arpeggio-the-piano-superdroid/
https://newsreleases.submitpressrelease123.com/2015/06/27/this-is-your-purchased-post-17920-for-24-hr-release/
Wayne Stahnke was THE mastermind of YAMAHA's Disklavier PRO technology with it's 1024 velocity levels. From 1991 to 2001 he worked for YAMAHA as a member of the Disklavier PRO design team. The ARPEGGIO system also plays with 1024 velocity levels. And it is able to playback MIDI-files with its 127 velocity levels - enough for a serious sampling-project. One should really speak with Mr. Morris about the technical specs and possibilities of his ARPEGGIO. Don't know, if he's selling an exemplar. If not, it should be at least possible to rent an ARPEGGIO for a few months for producing sample libraries from VSLs own STEINWAY D and from a rental BÖSENDORFER 280VC without (!) Disklavier Enspire PRO, if a purchase is not planned. Then VSL could choose between different "pure analogue" 280VC grands and take the "best one" for the sampling project. Cause I'm afraid that BÖSENDORFER as manufacturer will only build/equip just one 280VC with Enspire PRO if they get an purchase-order from a customer. That means "eat or die" and you have no choice to choose between let's say at least three new 280VC. In Hamburg you can choose between ten STEINWAY D, if you want. And they are all very different, (which is on the other hand a significant part of their own very great problem!)
Why not flying in a STUART & SONS 290 from Australia to the Synchron Stage in Vienna, together with Mr. Wayne Stuart, who is a genious inventor and a fabulous piano builder...? It could be THE ultimate sample library and the only one of a STUART & SONS grand!
LAJ, in your post you've written [...] "or they have some kind of C3PO ... sitting there all night long...". That reminded me of this ARPEGGIO, which is probably more a R2D2 :-)