The expansion route from even the patched release for the first CoD variant is still very big. You don't have to go that far and certainly not outside NW Europe. There's the East Anglian coast, the SW coast, anti shipping all along the Channel. There's lots to do just between 1940 and 1941 in this area!
When it is time to move on I'm looking forward to the AC sets not currently in the 1946 official set to show their faces (Sea hurricane etc.).
As for development; as a punter I'll purchase any approved addon/developed planeset/etc. from an approved 1C software house. The more participants and the faster the delivery the better, but as long as they are quality controlled.
Good thread Mr Pencil!