Will the champions of the digital photography world accept Apples new Aperture software without a SDK/API?

Aperture is iPhoto on steroids with a super steep $499 sticker. Competition for Adobe Photoshop? Probably not. However Aperture touts lossless RAW and some seriously cool apple'esk workflow options. But with no DNG or SDK/API Aperture still is no Photoshop.

It is good Aperture aims to gap the lossless image editing gap. This needs done. But as a developer, I imagine the finicky Pro Photography Apple crowd will not be happy to hear there is no way to add features, integrate with specialized devices, or integrate with a larger production workflow.

If Jobs thinks Aperture investment in R&D will help compete with Adobe's Macromedia line and Adobe's highly customizable line of products, he may be missing the mark by not appealing to the large pool of third party developers. Or maybe getting access to the API is only for the privileged, say Motorola in the case of their Rockr phone's use of ITunes.

To me, good R&D requires allowing integration across a broad range of products. For this, a good, open, and solid SDK/API is proof this diligence has been done.