Great news on the Hilberling PT-8000, from an email received today:
Hello Steve,
The transceiver has F.C.C. approval and is in production. I’ll be getting the first production unit next week and will get on the air as soon as I get back from my trip out west.
I will have a booth again at Dayton 2012. Attached is the newest PT-8000 brochure.—
73’s
Marcus (WV4Y)
Hilberling USA
I’ll get the brochure up this week. No word on details or costs.
73
Steve
K9ZW
With Varying Frequency - Amateur Radio Ponderings 
Demo at Richmond Frostfest on 2/4 was marked as $19,900…. as in 19 x 1000. Rotsa ruck wit dat.