just a general comment: your instincts and advisers were probably right - if you can't continue past 25k without serious reservations, it's best to open source

just a general comment: your instincts and advisers were probably right - if you can't continue past 25k without serious reservations, it's best to open source it and build a business around the project. my cofounders and i spent upwards of $250k cash (on top of our own time value) of our own money before we gained any sales traction. an order of magnitude higher than your pain threshold. if you weren't prepared to spend that much either from earnings or savings or equity, i'd say you made the right choice.