If their proprietary prediction methods prevent some human injuries and allow time to protect valuables and files, the people who paid their fee will decide if Geoforecasters' methods have enough value to resubscribe. We all will hear about the results eventually. I don't understand why their possible failure could set research back - research didn't stop after others failed to make consistently accurate predictions. If Geoforecasters use private funds, they aren't taking any public funding away from current research projects.
Mary C.