The problem with sampling that fast is that it's difficult to record the data. After some discussion, a scheme is blocked out. The baseband signal will be sampled at 12 bits by a digitizer running at 40 MHz or 10 MHz, depending on which bandpass filter was selected. There will then be hardware to select and pack the bits, and send them to some device that can in principle write the numbers down. Adding more filters would be complicated.
Programmable filters exist, but have lower dynamic range, which was the point in the first place.
Most believed that this limit was acceptable because it is slow enough that, if desired, additional filtering could be done in software, and in any case is easily recorded on tape. A converters will be provided for monitoring. Because this output is only designed for monitoring, the relatively poor behavior of this analog filter is considered acceptable. This system is not expected to be on line at first light. Bill was optimistic that it wouldn't take too long, as the boards are similar to some that are already designed.