Actually, Harbinger, if I could say somthing with what you said here:
"it shouldn't be THAT hard to come up with a design and implementation of working electronics for the original version. Should it...? "
In my personal experience, (as I currently am working on a Sliders Timer replica, which you can see on my friend's youtube channel here:
sliders timer proto type2.wmv - YouTube
(also my friend Tom helped with my timers creation, I must add)
Though a timer may perhaps work similar, and though the "design" is indeed, not too difficult, it is the programming , (or in the case of creating a different sliders timer, than say, the egyptian), which is the most difficult to create.
And indeed, most difficult to modify to the specifics of a device.
My timer I have created , I had to write code as well, and currently only have 4 digits. When the time comes that I expand to six or eight or nine digits, as simple as it seems to just expand , I expect it to be somewhat difficult to do. (Course I just do this as a hobby, got no schooling of electronics, so I am by no means, an expert.)
Anyhow, the main thought I'm trying to bring forth is that, it is not as easy as it looks. Trust me.