Finite lead-coefficient conjecture at Seifert-surface ideal points

Let $K$ be a knot in a rational homology 3-sphere, and let $X_0$ be a component of $X(K)^{\mathit{irr}}$. Let $x$ be an ideal point of $X_0$ that gives a Seifert surface; hence $K$ is nonfibered. Let {\mathcal{T}_K^{\vphantom{x}}\hspace{-0.5em}\raisebox{0.8ex}{\scriptstyle X_0}} denote the associated torsion polynomial.

Finite lead-coefficient conjecture. The lead coefficient of {\mathcal{T}_K^{\vphantom{x}}\hspace{-0.5em}\raisebox{0.8ex}{\scriptstyle X_0}} has a finite value at $x$.

This conjecture concerns the behavior of the torsion polynomial at ideal points of character-variety components associated with Seifert surfaces. The paper presents it as a proposed general picture based on preceding examples and a heuristic calculation for tunnel-number-one manifolds; no resolution is supplied.