I think, no matter what problems the theoretical 3D DF might face nowadays, in 10-15 years time, it would be so much easier considering the speed at which computer industry in advancing.
I think I know what I'll be dreaming of tonight: Playing a completely complete (ALL arcs, bloats, power goals...) bug free 3D DF using complete immersion goggles you put over your eyes, simulating that you were actually part of the world, thus being able to experience first hand the life of Urist McDwarf. All this on a 550 Giga-hertz 32-core quantum computer with 100 terabyte ram.
But seriously, even withought graphics, DF is a game that could cover alot of grounds ounce (if) it is completed one day, even if not as much as it would be with graphics.
And I think a DF-like adventure mode MMORPG would be EXTREMELY NICE, especially if we included the basics of fortress mode skills and building in it... Basically, it would be a low-graphic version of Wurm Online with much more added freedom (multi-story buildings, more realistic and actually 3D tunneling, maybe even possibility of individual players to host a server with a modded version!!!)
I think I might die of a heart attack long before anything like this might be implemented...
speaking of witch, anyone know of an easy programming language which could be used to create a simple server for an extremely simple game? there is something I'm dying to try...