Here's the use-case I'm thinking of. I want to create an in-browser pgp-messager using pgp keys that are on the nmc blockchain. If the onename "protocol" became ubiquitous this would be more or less trivial. A simple webpage with a "username" field and a "message" field. Javascript fetches the public key listed in the profile and encrypts the message (ignoring potential issues with using javascript for encryption).
That would be awesome, and there would be a million other applications besides. The problem is "onename.io" is a central point, both for failure and attack. If others could run this same pretty frontend, then there could be third field on that page for "onename endpoint", which would default to "onename.io" but could be anything. I could have my own personal instance, my employer could run one, my ISP for my neighborhood, etc... Farther down the line it could even be something built into a browser or OS, where you can specify custom default endpoints just like you do with DNS.
I don't really have any say with what you've created, it's your thing and you do with it as you see fit. But in my opinion your "pretty front end" is the best one so far, and I think could actually have appeal outside of crypto-geek-world. You just need to open-source it :P
I love your pgp-messenger idea - you should do it!
And you're right - the pretty front end is a big component. Two things, though - 1) we're working on open sourcing the profile crawler 2) it shouldn't be that difficult to roll your own pretty front end.