It would fundamentally change the science case, not just slightly. You have E-ELT and GMT in the southern hemisphere. A major part of the TMT science case is its survey footprint in the north to augment these other 30-meter class projects.
Money is committed on the basis of time -- with the expectation that the telescope will be able to deliver the type of science that your institute wants to do -- so an institute doing astroseismology is probably not going to put in money to a spectroscopy project like 4most or weave.
Money is absolutely committed on the basis of expected performance. And part of TMT performance is its location.
I agree physically the telescope is not that specialized. But TMT the project _is_ that specialized.
Money is committed on the basis of time -- with the expectation that the telescope will be able to deliver the type of science that your institute wants to do -- so an institute doing astroseismology is probably not going to put in money to a spectroscopy project like 4most or weave.
Money is absolutely committed on the basis of expected performance. And part of TMT performance is its location.
I agree physically the telescope is not that specialized. But TMT the project _is_ that specialized.