I could say rather a lot about the Optimist, but I'll restrain myself to the topic of having fun.

Sailing is supposed to be fun. Racing should also be fun. If sailing/racing could be affordable in addition, things would be great. In our sailing club, there is rather a lot of kids trying the Optimist. Most of them dont stay in the club for a full season. I think some of the reason behind this is the boat they sail. The Opti is not a very nice boat to sail for a beginner. If launching from a ramp like they do at our club, just getting the rudder on the boat is an advanced manouver. Controlling the boat without the rudders is a very advanced technique, so there is a certain amount of apprehension at launch time. The Opti rig is quite flexible with regards to trim. Setting it right takes experience and knowlegde, so racing and training is an "darwinistic" experience. Getting the most from the boat is quite hard. For a novice, being launched "solo" for the first time with just theorethical knowlegde must be really scary. Spending time in the boat, solo, must be boring at times. Especially so for a youth who often have a rather short attention span.

A simpler boat, both to rig, control and sail must be good. A boat where an adult or an advanced youth can come out to assist for the first trips is certainly a good thing. Being able to bring a friend, or sail two up is very valuable as well. Nothing is much worse than sitting at the back of the fleet, alone. We might even get to se youths sailing their boats outside organized activities, just for the fun of it. Something I have witnessed two or three times the last 5 years.
Working for getting a simple boat, which is both easier to control and cheaper than the Opti on the water is laudable. I think the boats Wouter and Phill have in mind is much better for attracting the kids and getting them hooked for good than the current crop.
Nobody said this effort had to result in instant world domination for the next season, neither does it have to be divisive for the current Opti fleet as some seem to think. In northern Europe many Opti fleet officers viewed the Zoom8 as a threat when it was launched. In reality, the youth who outgrew the Opti jumped into the Zoom8 instead of becoming uncompetitive and bored in the Opti (and quitting sailing). The F-12 can be the same thing, but to a further extent, it can keep those who "abandon Opti" sailing. If it someday replace the Opti, it would be a good thing in my opinion, but I dont see that happening in the near future. Working to get a good alternative to the Opti on the water is still a positive contribution.