I''d prefer to see the tone-mapping stretch goal for the imager node you mentioned, please. Coupled with custom LUTs this will give the community much to work with, I feel.
Tone mapping is in VRay and other renderers I've used, but it seems the Blender OCIO adoption (and coincidental Filmic Log transforms+contrast look color management add-on) has suddenly made it a popular topic in the past year or so. Personally. I've really liked the results when going this route for the more "photo-real" (e.g., architectural) renders.
My $0.02.