Those can be compelling reasons to stick with an FPGA imple-mentation. Nevertheless, per-unit cost is only one factor in a larger equation of life cycle costs. What you must also consider is whether you can afford the likely consequences of taking an FPGA into production. If you have a product life cycle longer than two years, there is a very real risk that your supply of FPGAs will be interrupted or cut off entirely. Taking an FPGA Into Production Means Taking on Risks FPGA suppliers rely on third-party foundries.
Foundries are notorious for obsoleting processes.
You will have to either re-design your part for a new FPGA, or make the translation to an ASIC after all. Perhaps your FPGA vendor can find a new foundry, in which case you re okay unless you have to qualify your parts. In that case, it is incumbent on you to re-qualify your parts and incur the subsequent cost. Of course, your FPGA vendor might switch fabs for business reasons, and they can do so with minimal notification. You re still responsible for re-qualifying them.