To read and write flash from the stock ECU we use the EVC SPI kit, also found on ebay as the spi028. Takes a while to read and write, but it works fine.
As for progress on the reverse engineering work, Peter is doing all of the work on that one, I only help with sourcing bits and helping a bit with the electronics.
Current state of the project is that the ECU has the ability to "self tune" and to log into its own memory. That makes it possible to just drive along for a while (about 0.5 to 1 hour), have the ECU log all the trims it wants to make to the base map. Getting home you connect the laptop, and read out the log, process it in the PC application (connect through a stock ELM327) and flash it back. It looks like Peter has managed to do the flashing internally, so no need for the SPI kit once this software is installed. BTW, the logging is only for fuel. The ECU has no ignition learning features.
From what I've seen on the PC software he has also started to program a mode which can be used on a rolling road. With the laptop connected you can realtime change fuel and iginition cells. If you combine this with a roalling road, you should be able to create some pretty good maps.
Again, as you can imagine making all the changes, testing it, creating the PC software takes up a lot of Peter's spare time. There is a lot of progress, but it isn't finished yet.
Mark