In theory, at least.  Obviously the current problems are the result of this NOT happening.  Bitcoin changed a spec at the last minute, and Counterparty had to adapt in a way that the Bitcoin devs didn't like.  Makes me wonder what would have happened if this had simply been kept quiet by the Counterparty devs.  If they had just quietly resorted to using multisig (that is what they're using now, right?  It's hard to keep up) instead of OP_RETURN, without the furor on this forum, would the Bitcoin devs ever have noticed Counterparty?