This 'splitting up in layers' gets done by third-parties, such as geofabrik.
Geodata is more complicated then just 'layering' everything. Also, making an entire ecosystem change is a huge effort
Geodata is more complicated then just 'layering' everything. Also, making an entire ecosystem change is a huge effort
But "making an entire ecosystem change being a huge effort" does not prove that it's unnecessary. It just says that it is hard.
I've never seen the OSM community back away from projects because they are "hard". And the moment this community starts doing that, it can just as well abolish oneself, IMO.