Is it me, or am I looking at a 1000 lb lean-to that takes a day to put together and probably cost $4000. USD.

I think it is way cool looking. It would make for a cool gazebo or back yard shelter. As an emergency shelter, I think it is not very practical.

Have they ever seen a "tent" ... this thing is ridiculous.

Expensive, hard to ship, and hard to put together. What's the emergency not having the Champagne properly chilled?

Emergency shelter for homeless architects. Who will then hire contractors to put it together and want to know why it's taking so long.

Jeff Rosati, tents sit on the ground. The floor in this design is raised up off of the cold, hard, and sometimes very wet ground. In winter, the tent floor acts as a heat sink. These structures appear to be easily insulated

Tents are easily insulated too. Well insulated tent are less expensive and are easier to ship and erect than this as well.

That's an inherently scary headline.

Okay, slowburn, I'll yield on that. What about water/run-off problems Think Katrina aftermath.

You need solid ground to set up either so what is the advantage that you see in that absurdly heavy, complicated, and expensive thing they are calling an emergency shelter.