=> Core should be core required files and code only. For the rest of this posting, I will call these the "framework files" or just "framework," but the name is mostly not important to me. It's just for clarity.
=> There should be a group of the most useful, best coded modules which are maintained and supported like the core itself. For the rest of this posting, I will call these the "core modules"
This is something that I've suggested before -- some things, like node.module and so on, are obviously always going to be a part of the "framework files". This meshes very well, IMO, with Robert's vision of 'targeted distributions.' I think providing the current mix of Drupal core modules as a 'Classic Drupal' distro, or something like that, would be a fine way to let people keep on going as they have been. Those who want something else can get framework + a distro, or framework + a custom mix of modules and themes, etc. --Jeff