I have a dog in this hunt.
I don’t have firm numbers because it has all been very conversational but I have spoken to several people who are interested in learning how to operate a kiln. They range from those who have no desire to do it themselves but want to have a better understanding of how everything works to some that want to ccasionally do interesting specialty firings. Now this isn’t a huge volume that would fill a weekly class, but there is interest in kiln operation. Whether they actually show up to a class is a whole different issue, heh.
That said, I don’t think someone that has taken three classes on kiln operation should be handling everyone’s work. Learning how to operate a digital controller kiln is dead easy. It’s all the attendant stuff others have mentioned in this thread that is tricky. A great swath of users are served by the current system, with consistent results and a minimum of damage. The big Paragon sees a lot of use and there are many happy faces collecting their wares. The kiln is a delightful workhorse.
Which is awesome, but there is room for other users to learn more, do more, make more. The firing schedule above is for one of three kilns. The other two are currently non-operational/accessible, the smaller Paragon and the Cress. With the Paragon especially, if we could get that kiln up and running, it could be made available (with whatever training, approval, scheduling and safeguards are deemed appropriate). It is of a size that’s more easily filled with your own work or rustle up fellow potters for a group firing. It could also be used for a class on loading/unloading and firing a digital kiln. All without disrupting the current flow of bisque and cone 6 glaze runs. The Cress is another matter altogether, it is a very simple, non-flexible kiln but if it works and we could get more information along with an ability to run it, it could possibly be useful. The Cress website seems to deny its existence, grin.