I didn't expect crickets.
Well, we have some new news. Our SMT components arrived today, and my tracking info on the boards says that they should arrive tomorrow. This is ahead of our original schedule. We will post pictures when the boards arrive.
Unfortunately, this doesn't advance our schedule any sooner than assembling on Monday, With college placement tests, Special Olympics, and Mother's Day all happening this weekend, we have no confluence of students and time.
Looking at the size of the components we used to fit everything on the board, while not an absolute position, I've moved decidedly against offering kits. I can now see why Heathkit had trouble being reborn recently. It looks like successful assembly will take the skills of a dentist or a damond cutter.
That being said, if there is interest, we may add a lower award tier for a kit of parts, with one extra component of every type. I'm sure there are a few masochists like me around that would love the challenge.