Perry, I think that you have described an approach that could result
in a popular replacement for /etc/rc.* that would elicit a minimum of
grumbling.   I think that you are wrong about one thing - shutdown
scripts are a good thing, particularly if you are running a database.
Other than that, I think you're definitely on the right track.

I think I mentioned the last time that this came up, though, that the
only way a change like this is going to happen is for somebody to just
go off and come up with something and get people to use it.   If you
try to get it blessed as a standard part of the NetBSD distribution,
nothing but flamage is likely to come of your efforts.   If you can
get people to try it in less of an all-or-nothing environment, I think
that it might eventually succeed in becoming a standard.

Just my political two cents - spend them as you wish... :')

			       _MelloN_