Re: Is this the most sensible Gardner report ever?
The funny thing is IPv6 is becoming a consumer-first technology, and will be widely deployed for consumer networks before business networks.
Why? Because new ISP entries can't find enough IPv4 addresses. Here in Italy Comcast is launching its "Sky WiFi" internet connection (because today "WiFi" means "Internet"), but could not find enough IPv4 for its planned customer base. In the beginning it borrowed IPv4s from Sky UK, but now it's switching to a native IPv6 network using MAP-T for IPv4 compatibility.
It's not the only new (new here...) ISP in such situation. The rollout of the national FTTH network using a wholesale model attracted many new entries that can't find enough IPv4s anywhere for their public networks.
I guess when many households will be IPv6-enabled businesses will follow.
https://www.ripe.net/participate/meetings/open-house/presentations/richard-patterson-sky-italia-and-map-t
"Solve that one, with backwards compatibility, and you have a winner."
Not going to happen. Most of the hardware and software now is IPv6 compatible. Upgrading it to a new protocol will be even more difficult than deploying IPv6.
"release those addresses"
Even Apple and Ford could release a few millions addresses at best. Not enough at all.