I can't comment on Nick's plans for pricing, but it will be reasonable in the context of the design and development that's it this engine; it's a mile apart from the off the shelf shopping list engines most companies produce, almost every new part has been made specifically for it.
As regards the longevity of two ring slipper pistons, there's a great deal of ignorance evident. The critical point is, you can get away with alot less precision in machining, assembly and running in/mapping with 3 ring conventional pistons; so the issues that can arise are not so obvious. With 2 ring slippers, if you get it right, it's no problem at all. My earliest 2 ring slipper engines are around 5 years old now and I've never had to replace a set through wear or loss of performance, I've even got one 1600 race engine being used on the road, which doesn't breathe or smoke ever and regularly gives over 40mpg. I personally would not supply an engine to someone I didn't feel would treat it with the necessary care on cold starts or observe the maintenance schedule advised, you do need to do that with a proper race engine to ensure it lasts and it will keep the cost of running it down over time. I think you'll find looking around, people using low quality conventional pistons, are getting much less for their money in the long term.
