A point to remember here - the legal authority to build the tram on the Roseburn Path already exists or existed. It may have lapsed, but the principle is pretty solid. Those opposed to the Roseburn Path route would need to explain why something which is/was until recently the law of the land is now cause for legal battles. Yes, they might not like it, but that doesn't mean they have a real legal case.
The bigger issue with the tram in general is that the level of new development which justified the tram back in 2003-07 is probably not enough today. Yes, the tram will still help to unlock some development potential along the waterfront but is that actually enough to justify the costs? The city has essentially run out of easy prime development land near to existing or planned public transport corridors. The solution to housing requirements can't really be to just point at empty plots, when those empty plots have disappeared and been filled with housing and other things. We need new development opportunities and those low density suburbs to the north west of the city, around either the Roseburn or Crewe Road South corridors, are not the worst candidates for redevelopment and densification. If the land between Telford Road and the new tram line were empty today, would you really propose building a lot of two storey terraced houses? No, it'd be 6 storeys or more, like other plots nearby. And redevelopment like this provides a good opportunity to better integrate public transport into the wider area. E.g. a proper "main road" with ground floor retail linking the tram stop and the Western General.
