I had inquired (as have many others who use the M9 on tripods from time to time) to RRS a few weeks back if they planned a new tripod bracket for the M9. This arrived in my email :
"Due to popular demand, Really Right Stuff is creating a custom plate for the Leica M8 and M9 cameras. This new Leica plate will be unlike any other ever made.
The passionate voices of our Leica shooters dictated a fresh approach to the design of this plate. Instead of a standard L-plate that mounts to the camera's tripod socket, our plate actually completely replaces the Leica base. This replacement base will have an integrated dovetail for mounting in a Really Right Stuff clamp. Use the base alone as a conventional plate, or add an optional vertical component to create the L-plate. This vertical component will screw precisely to the base using our standard hex key.
Excited about this design, but still want to use a grip? No problem. Add the optional grip; the grip will screw to the other side of the base.
Innovative. Superior support. It's "Really Right.""
I already use Luigi's replacement bottom place that allows battery and SD card replacement without removing the bottom plate. So I will be curious about two things; first, does the new RRS bottom plate allow changing the battery and card without removing the entire plate and second, if not, will there be a "standard" L plate for the M9 for those who do not want the new bottom plate.