Actually, that is one of the cool things about the sport. Users have always been the innovators although perhaps more true in the days of fiberglass than plastic. Nevertheless, lead users continue to be the innovators just that now instead of modifying for themselves and a small group of friends, they are working with the manufacturers. And the manufacturing companies themselves were almost always founded by paddler innovators.
The survey is also interested in more than just hardware innovation- to include new techniues or anything that might support the sport's infrastructure.