Hi Kirk!
I tried to read most this thread, but it's rather long, apologize if some of these points have been covered, I'm curious to know if your new catalog feature will bring:
1: Front end: allow hosting and access from your own server for as many web users or will there be some restrictions inposed?
2: Back end: Use the present "auto ingest" to create dynamic web pages for front end?
3: Will PM be able to connect remotely to a server with the PM catalog via a login panel built in to PM? (e.g. the catalog PM acting as a remote server)
There is presently a vast gap and price issue in an affordable server DAM solution for non corporate solutions, if PM was going to bridge this gap, it will surely be an absolute winner for the masses of freelancers out there just needing a solution like this.