While I believe NaCl is radically different in nature compared to the DOM or XHR additions, regardless, web standards development is a much different game today

While I believe NaCl is radically different in nature compared to the DOM or XHR additions, regardless, web standards development is a much different game today than it was 5, let alone 10 years ago. We aren't talking about Apple experimenting with some "webkit-" CSS additions, this is something that will essentially use HTTP to deliver C/C++ application code to computers. It's a big deal if it is to become part of the Open Web, and NativeClient has received zero interest thus far from other browser makers. Because of that, it will likely never be a WHATWG approved spec, and this is no secret to Google. The point of my post that you originally commented to was that web technology needs to be supported, cross-browser, to gain a foothold. NaCl will not see that, yet Google is actively promoting it as part of the web (see announcement blog post).