[Elecraft] Flex Radio - is it real?

[Lee Buller]

Elecrafters,
 
I stopped by the Flex Radio booth at Dayton this year and spoke to one of the evangelists touting the new software defined radio using quadrature sampling.  I wonder if any of you techies (I really am not a techie, just a wannabe) have looked at this system?  The numbers seem to be very good on the receiver and the hardware seems to be quite simple or maybe minimal.  The Quad Sampling method uses "direct conversion" using a DDS VFO going up to 54 Mhz.  Now, I know this is not "mixing" but they doing a sampling of the frequency and giving an output (Inphase - Quadphase) to be numerically processed by software.
 
I am just curious about what you guys think about this interesting piece of technology?  I am really interested in the DDS VFO because you could use one of those on old boat anchors that are crystal bound.  But, I am impressed with the technology and the "numbers" they are giving for receive figures.  Is this the future of HF?  I am not sure I want to have to haul a computer along with me when I go portable or mobile.  
 
Anyone want to comment?
 
Lee - K0WA