To clarify
This is not true:
"Requires setting the states of each LED/device where multiples of LEDs/devices are linked in use/purpose (e.g. 15 LED's under a trackball)"
You can actually split the signal going out to multiple leds and they will all work the at the same data point. Beyond that, even if you decided to set each one, that's the advantage, you can do this without loosing significant amounts of data out lines. To run 15 rgb leds under a trackball independently you would require 2 LEDWiz controllers, to do it with indexable leds, you need 1 data out pin off your controller, a power line and a ground line. What's being lost in this comment is that with the current way of thinking, having multiple leds under individual control burns capability, with the new way of approaching, your capability is greater and controlling many leds is no longer the limitation. This is kind of like saying, Horses won't be able to handle 60 miles per hour on the highway so we should restrict cars to slower speeds, we don't have to design within the limitations of horses anymore.
"High speed data lines which EM or RF noise can disrupt"
Like usb? It is possible but this is also an issue with the whole computer system idea. Not to mention, we haven't seen this issue.
"Loss of function for all devices in the chain beyond a device which fails"
This really depends on how the device fails but yes if an led goes bad you will have to replace it. So you can either swap it with one at the end of the chain (which is easy because these are addressable so components can easily be moved or added). Alternatively, with the money saved in buying 90% less wire, you can stash a few extra in your cabinet

"Limited to low current devices without extra addressable boosters
Limited to only devices which are addressable, without extra addressable hardware"
These are actually true. However, there is a massive push for indexable devices. Also we are talking about a board that is a chip and two headers, a $1-$2 part to adapt the signal to existing hardware.
I don't have anything against the current methods of lighting, but technology has moved on an allows for much more simple solutions. There are several disadvantages to the existing hardware that builders and vendors worked around. Even the two basic current controllers available now are different in their approaches and there are disadvantages between the two.
My bias is clear, we've been developing this for 6 months. We have not had any EM or RF problems. We've designed components to allow for high current device control, like a switchable joystick.... We have created small adapters so you can use this on your existing installations. We have boards with multiple leds that can all show up as the same data point, or multiple data points. Finally we have been testing these and found no increased rates of failure when compared to conventional systems. Even if you "roll your own" it's less expensive, less wiring, and more versatile.
I think the key thing is the expectation of the builder, from the start of this thread and the comments here as well as elsewhere people are looking for new solutions to the ones currently available. As I stated earlier, I don't think this is a good idea of any other vendors, it's futile an frought with issues. Let the crazy people go off and do this thing.
