Dutchie,
Whilst I agree with you that the 747X concept has somewhere along the line lost the impetus for change, I think it is a bit unfair and naive to suggest that Boeing is out of the loop so far as NGA designs are concerned.
Let's not forget how successful the chaps in Seattle have been so far...I suspect there's some life left in their R & D dept yet. Why else would they be investing a considerable no of dollars in relocating their plant elsewhere within the States?
SW