[lifeisstillgood]

How many times in that period did you sit down with him and review the work done to date? How many milestones on the way did you agree with him and how many has he completed?

How much of the prototype is "I have an idea in mind but have never thought it through but know what I want it to look like" and how much is "written / drawn wireframes and explanations that have then been reviewed and planned with the two of us"?

I cannot feel too bad for what is over a months highly paid work that you did not have control over. If you did have control, why did it take 180 hours to kill it?

[weaksauce]

why do you think they are planning on killing the work?

[lifeisstillgood]

the comment something like "180 hours ! no prototype! WHy should you guys get away with it!" indicates to me either ending current contract or whole project.

[weaksauce]

I figured the part in their next sentence was being somewhat ok with moving forward: "When does work ever get done on schedule or within budget? Rarely."