Hi ZoomT, I attempted to provide a non-technical explanation of the principal for how a generalised softfork could be achieved, is this a fair representation of your basic principle?
Thanks for writing this. In terms of analogies, I was thinking something like this:
Bitcoin = flower picking game
Example Softfork = everyone must pick only yellow flowers
Example Hardfork = everyone must pick mushrooms instead of flowers
Example "Generalized" Softfork = everyone must pick flowering mushrooms
The example softfork does not violate the original rules of the game, i.e. everyone is still picking flowers, albeit yellow flowers.
The example hardfork changes the rules to a new game (mushroom picking).
The example generalized softfork effectively achieves the same thing as a hardfork (upgrading everyone to mushroom picking) but as a softfork (technically everyone is still picking flowers as well).
I do not think there is such thing as a flowering mushroom however.