Why 4k?

I had a RED conversation with a cinematographer friend last night who kept questioning me about something I really couldn't answer so I thought I would post it to this forum.

This fellow is a very old-school film type, always shoots Panavision or his own SWEET Moviecam SuperAmerica-- he also has not one but four sweet sets of drool-worthy matched primes (two of the sets are Cookes)-- he has done a few features and loads of national commercials and is ASC so I fairly respect his opinion and questions.

I kept going on about various RED features and capabilities but after every statement he would say "Great but why do you need 4k?" I would point out something else and he would say "Great but why do you need 4k?"

His contention was that from the rumblings he hears from both the handful of present RED users and those waiting-to-bes that a small percentage of the projects people are in a hurry for seem to be for feature-film projects destined for the silver-screen. His contention is that 4k is warranted for feature work only and that he had not talked with a producer yet working on a RED project that was not destined for 1080 viewing at best. Went on to point out that every feature he shot actually had a 2k DI.

He asked again "Why do you need 4k?" and even though I put myself in the want-to-be-a RED user category I found myself with no answer for him-- have to admit myself that my own projects are for 1080 distribution.

So I will ask you REDers and soon-to-be REDers-- what kind of projects are you planning for your RED? Why do YOU need 4k?

Yours will help me formulate my own answer. :)

Thanks,
Alex