Nah, it's the reality. I wanted in on this initially but it was a bit pricey for me; I didn't want to commit without first seeing a prototype; and also because I knew it'd be a long time before it arrived. If you're prepared to throw money at something, even a deposit, you should walk into it with your eyes open.
You're dealing with people who quite often are doing this job as a hobby, and/or don't have the experience to scale-up their output. Seems that the particular challenge with this project lies in sourcing a suitable material - as a sculptor Jnix just doesn't have this kind of problem.
There's nothing greedy or unprofessional about it - you're signing up for a product with no prototype shown, and no timeline commitment given. If the wait is getting too much for you then that's down to your own expectations of what is reasonable, not down to any promise made by the maker or anyone else.
I once waited a year-and-a-half for a painted head, and this was from a reputable artist now working with a middle-ranking studio. It's frustrating no doubt, but not an unfamiliar story when it comes to customs. Clearly the project is still live, and it appears that the delays are the result of attempts to deliver the best product possible. I hope you all end up with an awesome gown!
Mandible, I get your frustration, but once you've got that gown you'll be stoked and I'll be looking at your pics wishing I'd jumped on board.
