VFS is the common filesystem layer. The only reason you think semantics belong in the common filesystem layer is that you are not innovating in your semantics, and feel content with stasis.
Over the last at least five years we've taken as much as possible
semantics out of the filesystems and into the VFS layer, thus having
a separation between the semantical layer (VFS) and the low level
filesystem.
Your attributes are absoultely a VFS thing and as suchI tell you what, use xattrs for all the half speed filesystems, and the users and I will use metafiles.
should not happen at the filesystem layer, and no, that doesn't mean
they're bad per se, I just think they are a rather bad fit for Linux.
So now go on and try to work together with the other peope doing VFS
level work instead of hiding, or if you think you can't work together
with us search a nice research OS where you can take over the VFS layer,
if your ideas prove to be good I'm sure Linux will pick them up sooner
or later.
Christoph