> Isn't it more likely that lessons learned in Servo will simply be back-ported to C++ in Firefox?
Usually, with high-risk long-term research projects, its fairly likely that the main benefit will be providing knowledge that can be applied to more conservative projects or to later high-risk, long-term projects.
OTOH, those insights often come from getting out of conservative boxes and trying something radical and new, and C++ is as much as part of the "box" Servo is trying to get out of as is the existing code base of particular browser engines.
Usually, with high-risk long-term research projects, its fairly likely that the main benefit will be providing knowledge that can be applied to more conservative projects or to later high-risk, long-term projects.
OTOH, those insights often come from getting out of conservative boxes and trying something radical and new, and C++ is as much as part of the "box" Servo is trying to get out of as is the existing code base of particular browser engines.