A. Even if mac os is not malleable, installing a “virtual machine” (or a framework) on top of which we have full malleability, that is indistinguishable from having linux as the os. As long as we define the boundaries correctly.
My opinion is that we do not have the resources to build a fully malleable operating system at the moment. But everyone has its own interests and inclinations, so any effort on this is well appreciated.
B. Malleability induces or is induced by a specific workflow, or as one might say, a specific user experience. I heard somewhere on Dynamicland that we start from the medium and the interaction and then go backwards to the technology/implementation. I think that Ink & Switch also follows this paradigm.
C. I think it is useful to do B and build something that is eventually not useful. I don’t know if I agree with the choices they make. But research is about being 99% wrong. it helps narrow the path for the next iteration, as long as we have introspection and learn for the previous step.
Take the good parts and point to the bad parts.
D. The problem has many aspects, it is difficult, thus it is useful to take inspiration from many sources that tackle different aspects. Don’t judge others for not solving all the problems. At the same time do not dismiss parts of the problem that needs solving.
(again sorry I am very busy at the moment and I can’t follow the discussion very closely)