Particle production and deconfinement threshold

We present a detailed analysis of the NA49 experimental particle yield results, and discuss the physical properties of the particle source. We explain in depth how our analysis differs from the work of other groups, what advance this implies in terms of our understanding, and what new physics about the deconfined particle source this allows us to recognize. We answer several frequently asked questions, presenting a transcript of a discussion regarding our data analysis. We show that the final NA49 data at 40, 80, 158 AGeV lead to a remarkably constant extensive thermal chemical-freeze-out properties of the fireball. We discuss briefly the importance of thermal hadronization pressure.