Yeah, I'm chalking it up to a blinding idealistic need to help, that those quoted seem so excited by this. On its face, yeah, this stands to do an untold amount of good for those who for one reason or another are unable to communicate. In addition to the toys they're talking about, like composing music (and I suppose other forms of art) from imagination rather than instruments/tools.

I find research into the ability to mechanically read and monitor thoughts to be a little horrifying. It's too much of a boon to think somebody wouldn't use it, and it's the last thing nobody could access.