Chris/23 Jul 12 - 06:57 AM
I may partly agree on a couple of points but strongly object to others:

" - it's very unlikely that any player with any experience is going to change to different keys now, as they will be used to the existing layout - "

RE: Habituation ( "experience") certainly is an obstacle to any change in life - I prefer to call this conservatism.It may be "wise" to some part but also restricted, narrowminded or simply cowardly depending on the situation. Positive result ( also "experience") from brave action or simple curiosity may stimulate the willingness to try novelties.People are different in this respect and we are all complex in ourselves - open or restricted in different situations.
There may be a greater resistance to changing use of a musical instrument than changing use of a pencil or hammer or similar tool since learning to master the musical instrument often is a more strenuous procedure.

You always need inspiration and a motive to make changes.Those players who had given up playing because of finger discomfort and got larger buttons allowing them to take up playing again had a very good motive of course.Inspiration for the change might come from wish to copy an idol (whether rational or not) or from comprehension that a change might be advantageous or copy-cat behaviour which occurs when "everybody else" has already made the transition.

"- so Guran is really only likely to influence new players IF they haven't already decided to go with the majority of experienced players".

RE: This is an important point.New players mostly are more openminded and got most to gain by starting fresh with an improved instrument or technique.A definite problem here IS that "experienced players" - particularly so called "authorities" of and old "school" - have most to loose from a change and often are the most hardheaded opponents to any renewing.In any field we usually find that novelties are established when the defenders of the past have literally died out...

"- It would also limit their choice of instrument dramatically, even if they could find a concertina with the larger buttons, as I don't see any of the current makers adopting his ideas on button size etc - no matter how much ergonomic sense they may make".

RE: Well founded changes always come sooner or later. The exact causes of some progress sometimes are difficult to see. It happens "when time has come" but one very important factor is the presence of an idol.If some performance "star" starts using a technique or a tool "everybody" will follow at once without hesitation

"- and it makes no economic sense to try to convert any of the traditional concertinas".

RE: That really is disputable.For an instrument which costs £2000+ is it sensible or not spending a couple of hours of own work or £100 to achieve a modification that might mean so much progress or enjoyment that you would never even think of going back to the past again...??

" -I think this has become argument for arguments sake"

RE: I'm afraid this kind of comment belongs to the most restrictive ones. Like "it has been the same for 150 years so it must be good as it is" which likely is the oldest argument of all against progress...
I can imagine the inventor of the wheel showing it to his tribesmen and they all shouted in unison: "We don't need that - we have done well without that for a million years..."