Ahhhhh I get it now.... I can see the point as it relates to the pin hole effect (diffraction?) and DOF items would be in the same process. Would light gathering be a separate process. i.e. it is still a f-x.x from a light gather standpoint same number of photons striking the same surface area - just a tiny surface area? I know that each pixel would be getting fewer as the density is higher.

Be gentle Dr. C and others already caused my brain to explode w/ the electronics discussion pixel quality, bit depth, etc. it is Sunday morning and I can feel the pressure already beginning to increase