Agreed on the idea, not necessarily the implementation. I have 2 modes when browsing - reading (docs, news, etc.) or using an application (Gmail, banking, etc.). I do not want to download a >2MB application just to read 1000 words (hence why I wrote this Chrome extension https://github.com/srpeck/readingmode). And when I am using a web application, I would like more say over what it can do and when/if I have to update it - more the Chrome app/extension model.

Plus, as a developer I would really like this model, as it allows the browser to open up even more of the operating system functions, especially the file system, leading to less workarounds.