I have no strong preconceptions on how these clusters will work.  You've covered much of the downside issues Mike.

On the upside with nine clusters, rather than one or two, Ottawa has increased the odds that there will be at least one winner.

Despite your complaints Mike showing technology users how to more effectively use technology can be a huge win.  Part of the concept of superclusters is that knowhow gets spread around different users in an area by employees moving around different companies.  There are lots of things that discourage this movement in mature companies.  This attempt to pool resources and accelerate the sharing of knowledge could have considerable value.

Hopefully there will be prompt attention to clusters that don't really work and the willingness to continue the ones that do.  

For those that do work the long term payout could be huge.