Hi bearkat,
I was reading your post and read the part you mentioning Garrett is working on improvements or even a whole new design for the Infinium, Based from what I am seeing on the Garrett Recon-Pro AML-1000 it's a modified updated Infinium.
The Garrett Recon-Pro AML-1000 is such a joy to use, Major improvement over the Infinium.........Performance wise, Both the Garrett Infinium and Garrett Recon-Pro AML-1000 are the about same with maybe an inch deeper with the Recon-Pro. Sensitivity are equal on smaller targets.
The big difference is the target audio, The Infinium gives off either the High-Low tone for low conductive and a Low-High tone for most ferrous, zinc pennies, dimes and quarters.
With the Recon-Pro, Most Ferrous targets, zinc pennies, dimes and quarters give a low tone only. Low conductive signals (nickels, gold rings and such) give off a high tone only.
Because of this one tone feature for each target on the Garrett Recon-Pro, Makes it so much more enjoyable to use and much easier on the ears.
Plus, I experimented with the Infinium coils and they too will work on the Garrett Recon-Pro. They use the same waterproof coil connector but a separate middle/lower rod setup will be needed to use another coil. Each coil has it's own middle/lower rods just need to make up another telescoping lower/middle rod to hold the larger Infinium 10X14" mono coil for ocean wet sand hunting, The Recon-Pro comes with an 8" coil and they do have a larger UXO coil for the Recon-Pro but I'm sure it would cost an arm and leg.
With all this said, The Garrett Recon-Pro is basically an Infinium but has several updated features the Infinium does not have. Once you use the Garrett Recon-Pro AML-1000, It's tough going back to the Infinium.
Let's keep our fingers crossed, If Garrett puts the Recon-Pro AML-1000 features inside the Infinium you guys and gals are going to love it!
Paul (Ca)