[kragen]

I do not share your fear of chaos or your faith in rational planning over ad-hoc protocols and conventions. I would prefer that you not attempt to rationalize the operating system I live in. Have you considered that the system you are looking for is perhaps not any kind of Unix, but maybe something like Plan 9, Macintosh System 7, PalmOS, or Oberon?

Instead of lamenting that Unix isn't more like Oberon, and trying to make it more like Oberon, consider that possibly the secret of Unix's success is that its ad-hoc protocols and conventions embody ideas that work very well, so instead of replacing them with untested rational planning, you should try to learn from them. Embrace the chaos.