Even so, the team is working on esf. What's the matter if it's not going to release in 2012. Then the year after or still one more. As you may know, the team haven't that much active members. In that case they are doing great stuff (as you can see: POTW, news updates). One more fact that esf is not dying is that the team never ever did something wrong which means that they said sth to us and later they didn't realize it. For example: We patch that bug with an version update 1.2.3 and as you know there comes an update. So the team never lies and they told us that they are going to do this (esf: final) and I believe in them, because there is no reason why we shouldn't trust that guys.
You are a "normal" user just like me and some others and some days ago I was talking to an esf-teammate and to short this up: they working their ass off! They really do.
Of course the question you've said is right: Why they didn't show sth in a shorter period of time? I guess that the more active team-members are haven't really things to show (like the coders, testers, sound-staff, ...). Anyway, that didn't change the fact that the team is still working. Some more, some less. What's the problem? Just trust in their words and train yourself in being patient.
Last but not least, if you would like to speed this up, because you think esf:f wouldn't release in the next year, then become a coder, mapper or sth the team needs and help them out. I mean, as you said, you should have enough time to learn by your own till the game will be released.
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Forgot one thing... Remember(!): The esf-team is not accountable to us! I'm afraid so.