First, the big "D" isn't a replacement for a Minelab. It's depth (compared to a Minelab) and VDI reliability isn't all that stellar from what I've been reading. It's only read strength is being a fast machine so you can swing faster in heavy iron without as much risk of missing targets, but unmasking is a non-issue with slow machines so long as you keep your sweep speed slow like you should. Besides, there are plenty of fast machines on the market for 1/3rd the cost. Yea, it's light...But other than the wireless headphones I don't really see much of a perk with being all wireless. I mean, how many times have you been hunting and said "I sure wish there wasn't a coil cable going from the coil to the control box because that would make my hunts so much more enjoyable"? Besides, being wireless in that respect just adds to the cost of the coils and also brings up the big question of just how waterproof the coil is since you have to charge the battery. I doubt it's really hurt Minelab sales that much at all.
Anyway, back to the topic...I was skimming over the patent information and if I'm reading it right (??? Didn't read it all...Just skimmed, so I could be very wrong) it sounds like the machine's main ability is handling extreme mineralization that even the current Minelabs sometimes have problems with such as the red iron rich clay in VA and such.
But here's my main point about those specs...Again, if I'm reading what I skimmed right...It sounds like the machine has a very unique ability to compensate for severe ground minerals that no other machine I'm aware of has. It looks like it makes reference to having the ability to analyze the ground minerals via the received signal, and then ADJUST the nature of the output (transmitted signal) that's being projected into the ground to get around penetration issues and the "glare" or reflection that would be generated by the wrong frequencies being used.
If that's true then that is indeed a leap in technology, because the transmit signal on most machines is pretty much static an unable to be changed...Other than a few machines out there that can change the power of the signal being sent into the ground (which is a highly suspect ability in my opinion. Never heard of any benefits to being able to do that). As most people know your sensitivity adjustment on most machines doesn't effect the transmit signal, but rather adjusts the gain (amplification) of the received signal from the coil.
The specs for this thing, however, seem to imply that it changes the very nature of just what type of signal (frequencies) are being projected into the ground. As we all know certain frequencies penetrate certain ground minerals better than others. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the frequency the more trouble it has with penetration or potential for reflection off of certain ground minerals, which can cause ground "glare" or that fog in the headlights blinding thing theory that's often talked about in detecting circles. If it has the ability to turn off certain frequencies and turn on others by seeing which ones will penetrate the ground matrix better than that's very unique and would be a big step up in detecting technology.
As far as I know even the Noise Cancel function on Minelabs doesn't change the nature of the output signal, but rather it changes which frequencies the machine pays attention to on the receiving end of things. It also doesn't pick those frequencies to watch based on their reaction with ground minerals, but rather it picks the frequencies that have less EMI (Electrical Mechanical Noise) on them. That's why Minelab says to keep the coil a foot off the ground when noise canceling, because it's weeding out the channels with noise on them rather than analyzing the ground content to select which frequencies work best for the minerals in that soil.
It isn't just about the general rule of higher frequencies being more prone to mineral reflection, but also that certain frequencies (high or low) have trouble with certain types of minerals in the soil. Being able to change the very nature of what is transmitted would be deadly, at least in certain rare situations where the ground matrix is so bad.
Anyway, it's all in good fun to speculate, and I'm probably wrong and inferred the wrong thing from those patent specs...But that's my best stab in the dark.
Again, I'm thinking that there won't be any real need to sell off your current Minelab in most moderate to even heavy mineralization. It might be that that machine's abilities only show themselves in the worst of the worst in terms of very rare sites and soils that even current Minelabs have trouble with. Where as in most soils (mineralized or not) the current line up of machines will get just as deep and ID just as good.
Think I'm finally home after a lot of years searching for my particular needs. Custom 1.5 lb lighter 
Sovereign GT (easy to do by just "building" lighter shaft) & SEF 12x10 as everyday coil. 8" Tornado (actually 7.25") as super heavy trash coil (Very deep & separates better than typical 8/9" true size coils). 13" Ultimate for large fields/beaches on certain days I want to grid faster than even the 12x10's nice improvement over stock for that. Stock 10" Tornado stays on water rig (stock shaft). 
ProPointer. Owned 15x12 & SunRay S-5 (5.5") at one time. Loaned a prior 13" Ultimate & SunRay S-12 (12.5").
Some Oldest Silver- 1835 Bust Dime, 1842 "O" Seated Dime, 1855 Seated Quarter, 1858 3 Cent Piece, 1891 Seated Dime, & another Seated Quarter too damaged to read date. Highest Value- 3 Cent Piece, Seated Quarter, & now 1921 F-12 Standing Liberty. Oldest Coin? Got to give large cents a good look & see. 2013 so far- 1 Seated Quarter, 1 Barber Quarter, 1 Standing Liberty, 2 Washingtons, 1 Barber Dime, 9 Mercs, 3 Rosies. 1 War Nickel. 19 silvers in total, & 1 1872 key date Indian, 2 Bufallos, 1 man's 14K gold medium sized ring & 1 gold chain, with possibility of few 8"+ deep mystery coins being Indians after cleaning.
What matters in life is the journey and not the desitination. How you handle that journey determines if you were a success, not so much what you achieved if and when you finally get there, especially if you made it by stepping on people along the way...
In loving memory of my long haired (wooly) husky Sky. She taught me just how beautiful and pure a soul can be, human or not...
That thread generated quite a bit of talk and showed them that indeed people were wanting such a machine.
------Totally agree with you in that it's an exciting time when any "top of the liner" comes out.---That's why the manufacturers put out these "teasers"---to fuel the excitement, speculation (AND INTEREST). 
Did some more indepth reading of the patent content and dug up some blurbs that make me think it might have the ability to adjust the output signal being generated. Not sure if it does indeed imply that, though...As it also sounds like it could just be an improved way of processing the received signal and not necessarily with the ability to change the output signal. Could go either way...
