This message is for Tubbutec directly but is IMO interesting to have in an open thread.
Seeing what you did for the SH-101, I can't resist to insist (because yes I know I'm not the first one) to say that all the MC-202's are needing your work !
I so much already thought and talked about the subject that I'm too much into it = I'm too much subjective and so I don't know where to begin. Please excuse me if my message could sometimes look not convincing in its own because would looks like some things already talked or thoughts somewhere, but I need to say that I feel there is something to do here ! This is my last request to someone else for this subject.
I know the main told issue is that the CPU is a surface mounted device (SMD). When I talked to the subject to various pretenders for this job, they always replied that this was a no way issue, but I know sometime (maybe on the Social Entropy (Quicksilver 303/606) forum now deleted) someone brought a technical workaround for it. It was a kind of SMD to thourgh-hole adapter and it seemed to be a way to look into.
Finally I felt that the technical barrier was a pretext to hide the fear that the thought-to-be-a-fact that "the MC-202 is not so popular" would result in a commercial flop. But there I have to reply something:
The MC-202's sequencer is so much unpleasant to use that anyone would want to buy a nice replacement one. I think this last speculation is the counterbalance to the "MC-202 is not so popular" one.
Also the work would include a suitable and final well thought and built and not-so-destructive replacement for the connectability (MIDI and proper CV/gate) which also is a huge and needed improvement that any MC-202 needs.
Finally I know that Colin Fraser (Sequentix) and John Kimble (Social Entropy) were interested in this idea, but I also know they don't have the time to do it, but as anyone they always have some time to talk to interesting requests, so maybe they could share some very good ideas from their love and experience with those kind of Rolandish gear.
Thanks ! You rocks !