User Feedback :: Smaller, nearly apps-less DSL?

I would find a stripped-down version very useful for my 'all-consuming, time-grabbing, late-night DSL-tweaking' projects. I'm all about digital-picture frames right now, and would love to have DSL stripped-down to almost nothing so that I could make a tiny footprint on a compact-flash. I owe most all of my linux knowledge to problems and triumpths tweaking DSL! A damn smaller DamnSmallLinux would surely send me off on other quests! I will anxiously clear off my calendar to make time for more projects.

With all that being said, I do believe that a damn smaller DamnSmallLinux should be seperate from the main DSL offering (a seperate option for thoes of us so inclined to dive deep into customizing). There was a previous post(s) about the future, and the growing size of the kernel, and DSL going in this direction anyway.... well I say hold off on the switch to a completely modular system (stripped-down with all apps as .uci or .dsl add-ons) as long as possible. Give the newbies a chance to get hooked.

Take Roberts previous post about the history/creation of .uci (to cut down on possible confusion with a 2 step process of adding openoffice). I believe that there are certain essential components to 'rewarding' a new users first experiment with DSL (e.g. firefox and xmms). Certain things should not be a 2 step process for the first-time user(1 download DSL, 2 download firefox).

A wise man once said, "It's not how things are, but how they are perceived" (something to that effect). If DSL is only offered as a stripped-down version, the perception of the new user (who might be unaware of the extensions) will not be favorable. I can recall it taking a while for me to understand how to add a .dsl (where to download, create an 'optional' folder instead of using the 'opt' folder, put it in there and then look for the  'mydsl' in the pull down menu after rebooting or restarting X). Not very intuitive.

I've gone on enough... I'm comfortable with any outcome because I understand most of the genius of DSL design; it's modular approach, versatility, and forward thinking. Features that will take years for mainstream understanding and acceptance.

The 50mb DSL is ace as a recovery distro. Good on anything except CDless pre USB laptops.
For recovery, some of the redundancy in the apps could be taken out one browser, editor etc.
Looking at it as an OS for old PCs, unless your using them as unattended drones there seems to be little point without the apps and even if the apps aren't required can say a 30mb linux work on that many more boxes than a 50mb one? I'd say you'd have to get down to about 8mb before it has a much bigger audience.
Keep the Apps please