Metadata Aware Image Handling In Drupal

I've posted an RFC regarding the use of DAM applications and how Drupal can take advantage of them, basically, my wetdream for online image galleries. I've been toying with Aperture for a week and love it, it offers several things Lightroom doesn't, however both feel sluggish on my not too slow MacBook. Not sure which application I want to use yet, but it doesn't matter since MAQUM would work off EXIF and IPTC.