Ya know, it seems one practical applicatiion could perhaps be demonstrated to prove Rossi’s device at it’s present level of development. Prove it in a way that ordinary people and the local news could easily understand. Engineer the device to fit into a shoebox size container that in turn fits into a home water heater engineered to accomodate the device. Not very sexy as headlines go but one should be able to easily measure the trickle current maintaining the reaction and see that it is not sufficient to heat, say, sixty gallons of water.
While I assume that the device could be set to maintain the temperature of hot water in the water heater vessel, I do not know if it can be controlled to provide an on-demand surge of heat as would be necessary to heat the cold water being introduced into the water heater as the hot water is used, like in taking showers, running the dishwasher, etc.
Your statement reflects what has been said about cold fusion since the 80’s but in reverse. They will believe cold fusion is real when the water heaters are available.