X-Message-Number: 26690
From: 
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 10:58:26 EDT
Subject: comparisons & perspectives

Someone asked about the number of fully signed up members CI has, and then  
offered his own assessment of the numbers. Ben is out of town. My own view  
includes the following.
 
As to the alleged membership numbers, I don't have those handy, but they  are 
less important than some other considerations.
 
Certainly one of the most important numbers is the patient population, and  

Cryonics Institute has a slight lead there, according to available figures,  68
to 67. 
 
The top consideration, for those who can afford it, is probable quality of  
cryopreservation. This is a long and complicated story, but as far as the  

available evidence indicates, there is no clear or proven leader. CI has the  
best 
professional research program, although we are told that Alcor is  making 
efforts to catch up there.
 
Perhaps the next consideration is future prospects of growth. In the past,  

Alcor has attracted more of the wealthy, by claiming to be top of the line. CI
has gained more of the unprepared emergencies, both because of lower prices 

and  because of better response. The perception of quality is changing, because
of  CI's vitrification advances, and possibly also because of CI's agreement 
making  Suspended Animation services available to CI members. Nobody is 

stagnant, and  future relative changes cannot be predicted with confidence. I 
hope 

and believe  that both will do well, and absolute growth is more important than
relative  growth. (ACS is also still active, and Trans Time is still in 
business.)
 
Once we reach the big growth-spurt point, at some unknown future time,  there 
will be many changes, including more active opposition on the one hand,  and 
more new competition on the other. Maybe General Electric will become the  big 
player, or some new heavyweight. That will be all to the good. 
 
The main thing for the individual, as always, is to make a commitment while  
you still can.
 
Robert Ettinger
 


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