The idea of an aircraft that could hover like a helicopter yet fly fast like an airplane is evergreen. Numerous attempts have been tried already - a quick look back through the history books shows us all of the various ways people have approached the daunting task. None have gotten past the prototype stage save one. Bell has spent nearly fifty years trying to force their flawed concept to work. A military version has been jammed down our throats, but the civilian version languishes and, in my opinion will never be brought to market because it is simply not the right answer to the question.
The Verticopter is merely another attempt. A novel and interesting one though. Will a human-size prototype ever be built? I hope so! Just for the sake of curiosity, to see if the designers really believe that two small, unshrouded counter-rotating proprotors can lift the craft like a helicopter (we already know they can be made to make the thing fly fast). Perhaps...perhaps...
Oh, and Shawn, one slight correction: The 2-seat Verticopter doesn't have twice the power of a JetRanger...it has twice the power of a 206L-3 LongRanger! The specs for the 2-seater specifiy using the 650 h.p. C30R/1 (although they confusingly claim that it only puts out 450 h.p.). Then again, isn't that the engine in the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior? And isn't that basically a four-blade "JetRanger?" Maybe you're right after all. Maybe they meant C20R
By comparison, the Partenavia P.68 actually does have twice the power of a JetRanger, and carries two more people than a 206B, but can only do 199 mph, and that only in a high-speed power-dive. And it can't hover.