I think it would do more than just impress Dean.
The builder would likely end up very rich with a name well recognized in the scientific community.
As for the omnidirecectional machine using balls instead of just wheels..
The Technokat's did it
Some of you may remember, at the Midwest (correct if wrong) the above robot was loaned to team 909, as 909's robot was not completed (again, correct if wrong). During a match, a team with a wedge-like frame lifted 909 about 4 inches, and one of the balls fell out.
Note on the thread "Patent Pending".. the Technokat's have something with a patent on the way dealing with mobility via a ball-type device. So if you plan on building an Ball Drive Segway, you may run into some legal troubles.
Could it ever happen? Anything's possible.
Will it ever happen? I think, probably not. Although we can improve technology, we can't change physics or ignorance to the new technology. People started a "Sue-It.com" (It being Ginger being Segway) to figure out how to sue Dean for his invention before it even hit the markets.
Face the facts, most people are out to get every penny they can. Make something that they can make money off of, and they will. By any means necessary.