Ya, I don't think that Viz or FUNI would be stupid enough to start their own version of One Piece from the point 4Kids ended at, but I guess it isn't impossible, just highly improbable.
The reason I would like a decent re-dubbing of One Piece is so that the masses (the ones that can't/won't stand to read subs) can benefit and get a version close to the one we have are watching in subtitles. If it isn't Bebop-quality, then too bad, but they really can't do as bad a screw-job to One Piece (Viz/FUNI) as 4Kids did, as long as it is decent (like how Naruto seems to be).
Anyways, I tried calling 4Kids, but apparently everyone is at a meeting and it is near impossible to get a hold of them unless someone here can e-mail their Blackberry (apparently Ms. Nowicki has one, suuuugooooi). I don't think Roz Nowicki will be available for a while (based on what the receptionist told me, but I will probably try again on Wednesday). I might try Sara Levin on Mon or Tues, but I don't know if she is a source credible enough to shout with glee for One Piece's freedom (probably not).
I tried Toei and basically got told: "I'm sorry, but no one can seem to answer that question".
I asked, "Does there happen to know what the status of One Piece is in your company, because 4Kids has taken down their links to it (I explained that 4Kids is the company that bought the license to One Piece from them) and I can't get a hold of them, so I went to the next best source."
Blah, what a sucky turn of events…
In a related note, I got this from someone at ANN.com (I asked them about them helping us investigate the status of One Piece in 4Kids and Toei's camps):
Hey,
The One Piece license has been up for grabs for quite
a while. The fate of the property can't be announced
yet.
I don't know if they are referring to 4Kids stopping production of episodes or if they someone found out (or deduced because of the former) about this without reporting it... I suspect the part in the parentheis, but I there is no way I can know so I think I will ask.