I was actually talking about the Rasberry, not the Panther. I would not consider this a release of the existing firmware since it converts the controller into something very different. As it is, there are multiple versions of the firmware for both the EDT and the USB dongle for ether DMX or Pixelnet as well as the test and run mode firmware for both the SSC and DSC. Even you are posting in your forum about possible additions to the Panther which IIRC, will require new firmware. Even RJ was thinking along these lines for landscape lighting with the Aether's and is why I suggested contacting RJ abut this. It is his hardware and Forum and if he doesn't agree or doesn't want this here, then his decision needs to be respected.
I also intend to replace the LED's in my solar landscape lighting with smart string nodes and will need a way to set them in a static state. I have bought a Panther to do this but since you have chosen to use a different processor, now I need to get yet another programmer and software just to load it which I really don't have time for right now. With my property layout, I would need to use two controllers which then also would require me to use a splitter as well. Since 98% of the time the lights will be is a static state, it would simply make more sense in my situation to create and or install firmware to put them in that state and simply supply them with power to have them do what I want.