I'd gladly contribute to this; I posted a thread about 10 years ago when I first joined looking for the game; I got it mixed up with Coryoon, and about 20 people PM'd me either asking for screenshot verification of the emu, telling me I didn't have it, telling me that I was an a$$hole for even SUGGESTING that I may have had it, or calling me a flat-out liar. Probably the hardest I've ever been bagged on here at PCEFX; esteban if I recall was the one who told me to double-check the filename on my old Win98 PC, and when It turned out to be Coryoon, the tsunami subsided.
As many of us here have frustratingly endured the ressurection of this topic, and confirmation that there is indeed a copy floating around (at least one, 2 or 3 is probably more likely, and they ain't telling), we can only assume that the owner is doing exactly that; holding on to the proto in hopes that it will buy him (or her) a ranch or house in the hills somewhere.
Truthfully, I think that the release of the proto will only cause and increase in the price, making whomever is hoarding the game even more money should they ever decide to sell it. There is, however, the worry that the Hu or Disc on which it is stored will degrade over time, and the game will be forever lost to the universe, kind of like Goonies II (the movie, not the NES game). Or maybe I'm f*cking wrong, and it will become a penny Hu. But probably not. Keith Courage just sold for $40 on eRipoff.
But what do I know. I'm just another person who wants to play the game.
And FYI I just opened a few sealed games. TO PLAY. (Babel, and Fire Pro Wrestling)
caw