One of the many reasons I haven't invested more time in the design is my mining equipment is still producing a profit in excess of 50% of the input costs.
Not sure I'm following you. Are you suggesting that it doesn't make sense for you to mod your gear [to be a part of your hot water heater] now, because your profits are high without doing it?
Are you planning to modify the gear eventually, once the profits drop? If so, why not mod it now? Unless the mod will cost you less at a later date, you're simply losing money. Especially since you claim that you've underclocked your gear to 60% due to heat issues (summer). It either makes sense to do it right away, or it *never* makes sense.
If you're not planning to mod your gear, then my point is made.
2) the concern you point out is valid but not problematic, if the water in the tank is hot, the miner runs but is not used to heat hot water. (so your wast heat is wasted) but for the rest of the time, the cost of hot water is free, or the bitcoin are being mined for free. you can still mine with 100% efficiency 100% of the time and not mine if your efficiency drops below say 99% or whatever your threshold is.
But that adds further costs--the need for dual cooling systems & switchover valving/control circuitry.
In short, impractical.
I like your skepticism good questions they dont undermine the logic, but I'll oblige anyway.
Yes, my profits are high enough without doing it.
I'm very busy acquiring new skills on some other projects (ones that intersect with the macro economic issues where both iCE and Cypher seem to agree), so I haven't made this a priority. It makes sense to do it now for lots of reasons, I wouldn't be surprised if a company like 21inc is doing it already, so I'm sure lots of entrepreneurs are thinking about it. There will also be a significant first mover advantage should competition emerge, that would also delay the decision to proceed indefinably.
Time and energy being the two resources I lack is the main reason its being delayed. And the wife docent want to see any thing bitcoin in the house. (its not easy explaining the total time logged in on the top of this page to everyone when you not in fount of a screen 24/7.) - its been like this ever since bitcoin hit $1000 and I told her I sold around $10 and bought gold at its peek, I can thank cypher for that I'll blame him for his confrontational debating style.
I have more than enough mining gear for the RnD process involves, I lack additional controls should I break something, a typical risk but not one I can afford given ASICminer is no more, ultimately all my gear will be converted for a proof of principal and testing however I only need so much hot water and scaling the idea needs me focus on more than just the PoP.
the "further costs" are not as prohibitive as you may think, and they are also fixed costs + R&D, and it's trivial issue in mass production.
I'll agree it's impractical if it hasn't emerged in the next 4 years. the principal is wast = food, its true in sustainable Eco systems and it's true in sustainable economic systems.