Revival of the Splitcycle Engine idea?

Original design defied the known laws of physics/thermodynamics -

Ask any second semester engineering student to read the original description of the SplitCycle engine. The performance claims made using the original design are not physically possible, and that is a fact now as it was a fact then. No speaking ability, no salesmanship, no force of will can change physical laws. I can certainly understand, in the beginning, people throwing money at this. However, after a few years, something should have clicked. For the Multi-Level-Marketing stock sellers to have the ability to continue to sell after years of non-performance is strictly greed overcoming good sense, both on the part of the sellers and the buyers. This brings me to;

Raising of Capital became paramount over development of technology -

I have to believe that, at the beginning, Rick Maynes believed in his idea, his invention. I also must believe that, at some point early on, he realized that he was good at raising money. And I truly believe that, at some point very early on, Mr. Maynes decided to spend a fraction of the $100,000,000 plus raised to keep up the window dressing, and keep the balance for himself and his associates. I believe that at some point, he made the decision that raising the capital and taking it was a hell of alot easier than taking the money, developing an engine, and throwing the dice. Why not just skip a few steps and just pocket the money? Early on, it was pointed out that a low compression ratio and short stroke simply had no chance of succeeding, it was a physical impossibility. And the reason this design was not changed at any point was simple - he was no longer interested in developing the engine, he was interested in selling shares and raising money.

Where did the money go? -

A ton of examples here, which can all be summed up with one; Rick Maynes purchased a $700,000 Lamborghini to drive to work. There should have been a full revolt 20 minutes after everyone saw him drive to work in it. How additional investors were found after the news articles relating to this were published, I have no idea.

How was this supposed to be an improvement over traditional engines?

Gunga,

I suspect that this is a spoof, not an actual attempt to revive a (scientifically invalid) technology.

Feel free to send them your money, however.