[OldGuyInTheClub]

Thanks for the pointer. I am interested in instrumentation so I'll look up the AO papers. Naively it seems like that would be an issue whether the primary is a few large segments or a lot of small ones.

If the resulting project winds up as a redesign, it would presumably add years to the project and that will only increase costs. Some philanthropic organizations and partner countries will see their generosity go for nothing which won't help matters. EELT will be operational in that time and getting results.

I also wonder about the growing LEO satellite problem. I get that these enormous telescopes have narrow fields-of-view compared to Rubin and similar wide-field survey facilities. The possibility of these being overwhelmed by spaceborne light pollution seems very real.