> I'd say he'd be hard pressed to find someone to put up with his shit and to work on his system for what I'm asking for. Especially in our market.
You think that this is a rational process?
He knows that he had this great idea and worked until he found a huge market for it. Sure, you did lots of work, but kids learn programming at the local JC and there are lots of them who do that web stuff. Besides, he'll soon find out that django practically writes web applications by itself. Sure, he wants to be fair, but you just sat around playing on a computer.
He said this guy's been a friend for 15 years now. Whatever happens, he gets value. He either gets a part in a growing business, or, less likely, he gets to discover that a "friend" is not really a friend at all. Both valuable in their own ways.
All that said.. original poster, get everything formalized ASAP!
In any case, I wish that people would find partners that they could actually, you know, trust. I am as cynical as the next guy, but damn people.