The derivation format is little more than a compilation artifact (a low-level representation of a build), and I think standardizing on it would not be as useful as it may seem.
Exactly, it's mostly boring, just like IP packets in isolation are boring. Great thing to standardize.
Also, we're working on making them a bit less boring :). I've been working on adding hashing schemes compatible with IPFS's IPLD. Also, we can make derivations that produce derivations, making a sort of recursive Nix that encourages more up-front planning than crude "nix-build inside derivations.
