That does not preclude and app specific (back channel) fix that may have been added/tweaked in the development of OS X 10.6.x, ColorSync for the previous and Preview. It's also not 100% certain that Preview is using the print pipeline EXACTLY like other apps outside of Apple are using it.
True but unless the other players are sure that Apple hasn’t provided this recommended approach, Apple’s take is, the other guys are doing it wrong, its their bug. Again, I’m not saying Apple is blameless but if their application (s)* don’t exhibit these issues, they are not going to even come to the party and aid the other players.
*Note, if you can get Aperture to behave differently than Preview or iPhoto, now we have something to take to Apple.
It's Apple's print pipeline that is breaking down.
For that to be true and for Apple to admit it, their applications would have to exhibit the same issues. At least with Preview and the last round of V4 profiles Chris and I tested, that wasn’t the case.
Now maybe this print pipeline isn’t defined. If so, Adobe, Epson, Canon etc need to make that clear.