Does Joomla 1.5 + K2 = Joomla 1.6?

I learned how to use Joomla and K2 at the same time.  I loved the added features that K2 provided, especially the ability to automatically resize pictures for different items. K2 provides over 100 options that really can help you take your Joomla design to the next level.  It has nested categories, a commenting system, social media tools, and an advanced user system.

From what I read, Joomla 1.6 will have many of these similar features.  The advantage is that the content will all be saved within Joomla, where as published content in K2 is stored elsewhere in the database. That makes it more difficult to find and modify the content after it has been published.

So my question is, what would happen if they had taken the code from K2 and integrated it with Joomla 1.5? I am sure that is easier said then done, but if they have similar features, would it have been possible to blend them together? Would that have been unfair to other developers of Joomla content construction components such as jSeblod, Zoo, and Mighty Resources?

I will be eager to try Joomla 1.6 and then compare it to K2. I can revisit this post in the future and see how it played out. I wonder if these things are ever considered or it is not anything that Joomla or Open Source Matters would allow.

How do you feel about this and what would be ideal for your Joomla designs?