Replying to Coombs and K2. whats the deal?

so i just re-read the coombs article in the september 06 Powder issue, and was thinking to myself.. why did k2 wait so long to give coombs a pro model? doug did a lot for this sport, and i think he should've gotten a pro model years earlier. and i understand the Coomba is a tribute to one of the greatest skiers of our time, maybe one of the greatest ever, but i just think k2 was about 5-10 years to late to come out with his pro model.

*the above post was in no way meant as disrespect to Coombs, as i know he was working on this ski before his death. i am merely posing the question of why it took so long.