I think he is starting to stop being quite so idealistic and get on track to shipping the bikes. He was talking about a DLC or carbon nitride coating option for the bike a few months ago (probably because there is a component that requires it for extra durability), and had begun exploring options to get the frame coated as an optional extra. In the last update he mentioned that they had decided to not persue that for the time being because it would introduce extra delays. I would have personally paid extra for it, but I'd rather get my bike some time this decade

As other posters have mentioned, the parts are supposed to be coming really this week, so hopefully assembly and shipping can begin soon (frames and other Helix factory made components have been in production for a little while now).