Would there be any value in 'hiring' (so to speak, paid, or value given toward a kit, etc), someone in the community to help act as a middle-person for aggregating the information from the builders/management, and the customers? I'm entirely new here.. haven't even put a penny on a kit, but I do sense the undercurrent between the groups. Doesn't seem to be anything malicious at all, I've built cars, I know how things happen and time gets blown on stuff (the new molds, for example).
I don't know how it's done presently, so keep that in mind what what I say. I do like that there are webcams up, and it seems like the Goblin crew post a lot of pics up when available, which is great.
What I'm envisioning is a POC the customers can reach out to, who can compile their questions/concerns. The POC interfaces with the Goblin crew to seek answers/information, be given insight to upcoming matters (so as to anticipate needs/information). The crew can still interact with the customers, but this way when the crew is stuck building something and isn't available to answer the door, the POC will always be available.
Additionally, there should be a resource--either on the forum, or something like an online gallery (facebook, or a website plug in), where confirmed/paid customers would get their own 'gallery'. The POC would ensure up to date pics of the build process are posted in each respective gallery. This way, instead of having random threads with Bob's build and Tom's build, each one after another, it's aggregated to each paid customer, and everyone can see the parallel process being done.
This information and the pics likely already exist, it probably isn't put together in an organized format like that. Ideally, the POC would be local to the shop, but it is feasible that the POC could operate remotely, since they're relaying information/pics/etc.
I've seen many a great small-shop situations get backed into the corner and lose momentum when the volume of questions/people start to overwhelm them, I'd hate to see that happen here. Especially if you guys are looking to produce more and more kits, which require more assemblers.