but how many people really want a full-on road racing tandem? Does the UCI ever recognize road tandem racing? It's my understanding that tandem raod events go on in England, but I'm not even certain how common that is
Your right but there are quite a few large "rides" in the U.S that allow tandems. We have one in Tucson called the Tour de Tucson 5000+ riders. Big time local bragging rights and to see the tandems mix it up with the best road riders in the U.S (Gord Fraser, Kent Bostick etc. etc.) is great fun. They have even won the whole thing a couple of times. Good thing though is that one doesn't really need a "racing" only tandem to ride a super fast road race. My view point is that one should build them to go fast, then do whatever else you want.
Dave Bohm
Bohemian Bicycles
Tucson Az