Jethro.........
Point 1 - I don't believe anyone is suggesting we rid ourselves of the FAF, just that it be a distance which is referenced to the same point as all the others. Just like in the ILS or DGA scenarios you mentioned. That's the simple difference, they don't have a distance to run to anything other than the one point during the whole of the approach. Thus, one cannot mistakenly identify one segment for another!!!
Point 2 - FAF or no FAF, as a separate waypoint or otherwise..........Limiting altitudes, obstacles and descent points can occur either before, at, or after the FAF. The manner of representation of this Fix is an entirely independent consideration of the step-down issue.
Hope I've cleared that rather than muddied it.
