I concur, the BaT conversation was entertaining; something along the sit-com style. I did notice one of your posts deleted, Alan, and I don't understand how that happened other than my previous clown-show comment. I read it and then saw it deleted later.
The VZ program was indeed a unique event in automotive history, on many different points of argument, and ranks right up there in the mentionables category. Alan, I think your point is on an intellectual platform, far different than the sensationalistic cries of passion we saw on BaT. The Dream Garage ad campaign and the Z Store were a two million dollar event at Nissan USA in the late 90s. They signaled the end of the Z-car for a period of time. That was a big deal. Considering the scale at which Nissan USA approached the restoration program, it was pretty damned unique. Were they the first, the only; did Nissan "conceive" of this outrageous idea? No. Of course not. Factory reconditioning and resale goes back to before the war. Read your automotive history. We don't need to quibble about Aston Martin.
The sensationalists ruled the day, however, and some poor bastard took home a car that needed work for a price five times what that car would have cost ten years ago. Personally, I'm encouraged.