back here with the usual...

[Schaki]

But then if some manufacturer other than Ricoh comes out with a WR serious large sensor compact by May, well, I just might be crossing into that camp. Chances of this occurring, though, seem close to zero - it looks like only Stanislaw and I are praying for said camera.

The best that we realistically can hope for, for 2015 is a WR compact with 1" sensor. I doubt it is going to happen though and and probably it is a gamble which Ricoh wont take even though they pretty much is a niche-player. Probably Panasonic is or perhaps Olympus would be more likely to try something like that. Panasonic has been very agressive with pretty good cameras in during 2014 and showed with their latest premium travelzoom compact, the TZ70/ZS50 that they probably know what they are doing when they go for a sensor with less pixels compared to it's predecessor which have the same zoom.
Olympus have now used the same zoom (same as in Rioch WG-3 and 4) in their WR TG-1 in three WR compacts and really should come up with new zoom for the TG-4, if it is to come. Maybe they could gamble on a 1" sensor or at least a 1/1.7".

 

[quester]

But then if some manufacturer other than Ricoh comes out with a WR serious large sensor compact by May, well, I just might be crossing into that camp. Chances of this occurring, though, seem close to zero - it looks like only Stanislaw and I are praying for said camera.

The best that we realistically can hope for, for 2015 is a WR compact with 1" sensor.

I'd be happy with that.
When I started to take apart the PX, I was surprised at how much dust and grit had accumulated under the outer layers. I suppose I'll have to take the matter of protection of the camera more seriously, even if it is weather-resistant to an extent.