The problem is not the roadmap. IIRC they published a very generic one just after the release of the K-1. Since then the horizon of the roadmap has been kept well beyond the immediate future.
Formally there are no deadlines that haven't been met. The real issue is the credibility of Ricoh/Pentax as top quality independent lens maker.
From the very little we know, and using some common sense based on actual incontrovertible facts, it's quite obvious that Hoya zeroed the optical design department.
Knowhow comes from the experience of human beings. Intellectual property (like patents) is not as important.
If you fire engineers and technicians, rebuilding on the ashes is not easy nor quick.
Some great optical designers of the past were visionary geniuses. Fortunately today there are powerful computers (and specialistic software), but brilliant, competent minds are still extremely important.
Once I had access to a professional lens design application. Even a complete newbie can calculate a triplet or a tessar, using standard Schott or Hoya optical glasses.
Designing a complex objective comparable to the best designs is a completely different thing.
Some forum users seem to favour the re-release of some of the best film-era optics, with WR, in-lens AF, improved MC, etc. I guess it it would be perfectly feasible, but I'm afraid it would make little sense commercially. When people see the MTF charts, I'm not sure they would not invest their hard-earned money (Pentax optics are not cheap!) in lenses that don't perform at the same level of the competition (or current high-quality third party offerings).
Releasing "good enough" dated designs would be suicidal. People would buy recent second-hand alternatives, or third party ones still available brand new. Both options would be way cheaper.
On the other hand, continuing to outsource basic elements of the lens line-up would be simply crazy, if it's not perceived as a transitional solution. People don't like to buy Pentax branded third party lenses that cost much more than the originals. If that is the path, much better to stick with cameras, concentrating R&D investments on software (AF algorithms are the other weak spot). Other subjects would take care of the optics...
Though I'm quite sure that such choice would not be accepted by the small, loyal user base Pentax is depending on.
Taking into account all that, I guess the only option is to wait and see, without too much complaining
Ideally, Ricoh would need a robust investment in optical R&D, a visionary head designer, and their own little glass foundry. Given the current situation of the market, it's a pipe dream
No complaining, some hope... and a lot of nostalgia.
Even forgetting about the golden age, please check the wave of optical releases across the new century. I'm testing a few of those silver consumer zooms, and I'm absolutely amazed by how such cheap, wobbly, poorly built lenses can perform, even on a high-megapixel full frame sensor.
I didn't expect this kind of optical performance, cause a number of completely new designs were released during a short period, at a time when sales weren't great. Impressive.