I think with the airlines trying to recoop high expenses through weight/size restrictions and special baggage charges will continue to dog kiteboarders. The new flat kites are coming closer to the one kite quiver concept and they may even pack up a bit smaller than some C kites. So, that part is moving in a good direction. Something I have used for a couple of years to fly three kites with a reduced volume are vacuum bags. Some guys in Sweden or some other Nordic country first mentioned using this.
More at:
http://kitesurfari.stores.yahoo.net/kitevacuumbags.html
I did find this technique could cause bladder rotation that you would want to correct before inflation ideally.
Six years ago faced with flying large directionals (a 7.5 ft. and 6 ft.) down to an interisland windsurfing race (for me kitesurfing) in the BVI and in subsequent trips, I started to wonder about more portable boards. Something in the way of a twin tip that could be broken into two pieces with minimal rocker. It might have a transverse tongue and groove setup with longitudinal keyway strips that could be inserted for stiffening and integration purposes. There are a lot of different ways the problem could be approached. I think it is doable though.
I saw a different approach at Surf Expo last year:
Inflatable boards! Not much of an edge to be sure, you would have to try to make it up with fins. I spoke to the manufacturers about making something for kiting but they had their hands full just dealing with surfboards at the time.
http://www.uliboards.com/
I agree about the speed record too PFW. The physics of the thing support kitesurfing, eventually, winning out. Some day ...
Other ideas?