The NuVinci looks VERY interesting and certainly has a future, if indeed the price is right. Can it compete with the global domination that is Shimano? (Not that I have anything against good ol' Shimano)
Another idea though: how about a Thorn Raven fitted with a Rohloff: 500%+ gear range, tried and tested and tried and tested and doesn't rely on what appear to be a series of gumballs such as might be obtained from those 20-pence/cent-piece-operated machines outside corner shops...
(Compare these two links if you don't believe me!)
http://www.fallbrooktech.com/images/Hub_WhiteBack_bikepage.jpghttp://www.gumballmachinesdirect.com/No, but seriously, it does look like a great bit of kit. I'd love to try one and see how smooooothly it operates.