Pity that your new Co. can't hand you a cel-fone and say: go get some bizness info. Now as to your boss's desire to reverse engineer.. rather than even provide enough info to get an honest (and accurate) quote from a party with a rep for competence.. umm are you Sure this is a step up from the lawyers?
Seems really odd if neither party offering similar services - found out about each other, over 17 years !?
Yup, Stan Freeburg: One I recall off top of head was, Merry Chri$tma$ - the jingling bells were of course cash register bells. Remember cash registers?
My sympathies - it seems that you are amidst a group who will micro-manage most every idea. Perhaps you can just go with the flow for a time.. Taking this stuff home with you + Young Genghis, sounds like a recipe for total brain exhaustion.
Take care - in fact, Insist upon it! :-)
Ashton