> How many
> people recompile their kernels today?
>

I do, so I can't check easily (re-read that as I am too lazy to install a default) but I thought most disros (Debian ?) build sata,ext4,btrfs into the kernel nowadays.

> And you know what? If initramfs were done right and used only to mount
> the /root and /usr partitions (and maybe /lib or whatever), it wouldn't
> be all that terrible. But nooooo, they gotta include everything and the
> kitchen sink.

It would also be simpler to troubleshoot and fix issues, it is extremely difficult to fix what you cannot see.
Anybody who has used and regularly updated proprietary NVidia drivers probably knows what I mean. It has taken me a year to crack that issue, exclude them from the initramfs or don't use one at all. Plus I get my row of Tux's on every boot.