Ohhhh -- it is slowly becoming more clear
have to run but want to share this tips
the handbook page is an archive/redirection & says to go to views advanced help
the 3 pages in advanced help that relate to module development can be seen here:
http://views-help.doc.logrus.com/help/views/api
and then there are 3 pages that talk about setting up a views module, and making handlers - plugins - styles
views developers groups on drupal org
has 900 members - mainly they have been talking about views 3
i heard once that there is a views IRC channel
if i/we were to write some more documentation, it's the advanced help files (actual files in the view) that would need work, and so that would require writing patches to fix
So -- i still think that a few things like adding links to extra resources would be good - perhaps just making a views 2 handbook page that explains what advanced help is (which is a useful ref for development, but doesn't give a meta look on views for intermediate level developers such as myself)
so i have some ideas about what issue i would put in views, but i also saw that there are over a thousand issues. so, i am being more thoughtful about what i suggest than just making a new issue.
also, most energy is going to views 3 - that's the part that sucks about figuring things out so late - make what exists better or help make the new version better?
feel like with a little bit of guidance more people like me could help out - but not if we are totally confused.