It is sad about the death of lead designer Klaus Burkert (2001) but what you say about him is not true.
He was still working at VT in 1999, two years after the launch of the Picasso IV.
It is also not true that "he took all knowledge with him". Klaus worked as the leader of a team and one member of that team and close friend of Klaus, Tobias Seiler, was left the rights to all VillageTronic Amiga designs that Klaus and he worked on.
Tobias is currently working at a University (as a student) but he has already helped me get updated chips for my PIV and plans to make some more products / offer services in the future.
