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I can't see Apple being able to do this even if they tried. So many apps in iOS rely on the standard elements, mix them with others, make overlays using them and so forth. For them to "remake" the OS now would break tens of thousands of apps, and to offer a new UI as an upgrade would stunt adoption.

No matter what happens in this scenario, Apple is left with two half interfaces. Not clean at all.

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They could make redesigned standard elements opt-in, so old apps would still use the old styles and continue to work.

(I've certainly seen apps change behavior simply by being recompiled by a newer SDK, so there must be something in the binary loader that sets a bunch of compability flags or something)

Right. This is how Aqua migrated to Brushed Metal

I would imagine that there will be some kind of 'legacy mode'. Much like the (botched) transition to Auto Layout, or the move to the 4" iPhone 5 screen.

A year on and I'm still using a multitude of letterboxed apps.

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