I recall the smp debates on linux also...
Some people may be right in that 68k and NG1 apps must be sandboxed going forward...
I don't really know, but I agree that the software base for NG1 apps is not so huge... so recompile them with a few changes to work, or sandbox them if necessary. 68k apps already run in emulator on aros so why not progress to NG2?
8 core machines are becoming more common. 12 and 16 core machines will be common soon enough. We can all sit with our heads in the sand and ignore all that power, or we can learn to use it...
I'd go for using it...