You could try to contact Lexel, since I think he is responsible for the driver, and aux led board design, and see if he knows what might have failed. Actually he’s responsible for the entire electronic design of all of these FF models AFAIK, and, I presume, also the tailoring of TK’s open-source firmware, because I suspect that if she had any involvement here, never-mind even token gesture funding, she would have let it be known.
If I have got Lexel, or TK’s involvement wrong, please could they let me know the true situation and I will edit, retract etc. any misinformation.
Fireflies sketch out then subcontract the metalwork, assemble (or get someone else to) the parts, use FreemeGB to promote the interest here before the product actually exists (with his cut), then distribute (late), as far as I know.
Sending out prototypes for review and evaluation, and feedback, by respected independents, in advance seems not to be their way, and the pre-order window is too short for any independent reporting back. Too much in a hurry to get orders in, and demanding/expecting a leap of faith by their first customers, based on over-promising.
It’s a borderline business model, even if you can keep all the plates spinning in the air, and the product is worthy. It’s only their second go at this, the ROT66 seems to be liked by some, though the ones who paid full price but got the first ones without the Aux LED board, and no retrofit kit in prospect, might be understandably annoyed.
Still, you all will have 3 years warranty, once they arrive. As long as you didn’t specify “no glue”. Good luck with that, and paying to send them back to China at your own cost if the warranty is required.
Also bear in mind that some people who have received (or even not received) shoddy products don’t like to talk about it publicly, perhaps feeling a little foolish, but just put it down to experience, write off the money, and learn not to be quite so trusting again.