Thanks, I've read up on OpenEXR. It supports 16 and 32 bpc color. There are other 3d programs that export/output standard exr files that can be read by other programs. The options available are that even if A:M only supported rgba, they could still render out multiple layers with alpha channel into a single exr file, or multiple exr files each with different aspects. Fusion, Nuke, AE and soon others are using openExr for vfx compositing.
Unlike the polygon modellers and animation programs, Hash with spline and patch is resolution independent. Whether it's for SD, or 2K one size adapts to all. yes A:M uses some of it's own exr extensions for internal compositing, that doesn't mean they couldn't export in a publicly usable standards based version.
Anyway, making a formal request, knowing full well Hash has got a lot of things on their plate.
btw, for what it's worth, I've been talking to working pros using LightWave and XSI and they have a lot of respect for A:M. Seems only the fanboys, wannabes and the clueless are taking shots at it. I strongly feel if a:m can somehow get a renderer than can compete with the likes of Vray, they will be back in the game big time from a perception point of view. I don't say that lightly either and don't expect something like that in the immediate future.
I've recently downloaded a freeware renderer name 'Kerkythea' that does GI/Raytracing and supports output from Blender, 3dstudio and of all things Google Sketchup. They have an xml based import/interface. Wondering if a:m could adapt to something like that. It's free and open source and a little gem that doesn't get a lot of attention. Search Google, I won't post a link here out of respect.
The single biggest issue I've run into is people thinking A:M is an island. Not really true, but perception is different.