Hmm. Interesting, Larry. I do think that MMA contact will improve one's aikido methodology. But what I can't shake is the argument from the MMA types that really, the take-home lesson should be, "Aikido doesn't work; stop doing it!"
As an aside, I'd invite people here to take a look at this thread I just started, on just what sorts of rulesets aikido might work
well in:
http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12369