Agreeing that we are only speculating, since rumors are often just hot air...
If such talks were happening, then it might be interesting to estimate who is the originating party.
I kind of doubt that it was Panasonic, their association so far is a marketing play, but if it was Leica, then it would be to stop the blood loss on the Kaufmann family fortunes.
If the second alternative is true, then the probably of an R10 is very close to zero.
I imagine that the G1 revenue stream alone may indeed exceed Leica's total revenues. I am bumping into the damn things everywhere.
Most businessmen in their right minds do not throw good money after bad, especially under the current conditions.
-bob