You really want your kids to end up on Slashdot?

Trying to innovate necessarily implies failing a lot. The Kin failed, but at least they tried something different. Windows Phone 7 is different too. Will it fail? Maybe. We'll see.

An extra dimension does make collisions less likely...

Comparable things happen in ER.

It's like health insurance, not car insurance. In the context of health insurance, when a problem arises, it might not be too late to save what is at stake, and if you're not insured, then you can still pay the full bill (what this guy or his neighbor offered to do). In the context of car insurance, the damage is done and cannot be prevented anymore.

Why would this be a municipal thing? This is about business and people not paying their bills (for the delivered service). So, they could take his house from him, not in the least because it *would still be there.*

Ever heard of the concept of a 'business', 'detailed invoice', etc ?

How do you know that they would have saved human life?

People could pay (cost + some profit) whenever there is a fire to put out. The thing would operate as a business, with some capital to invest upfront.

The 75 USD is basically an insurance fee. If you don't pay the fee, then you should have to pay the full cost of the service... to put the fire out. Which is what this guy (or his neighbor) offered to do.