That sounds like you’re advocating mixing package sources? So pip install requests would be a correct install command to use, even if you’re otherwise using conda (for geospatial libraries, for example). And what about something closer to the grey area? Is it OK for the canonical instructions for how to install numpy (the ones people looking for numpy and ending up on PyPI would see) to be pip install numpy?
I’m absolutely fine with that, for the record, but it implies a much greater degree of integration between pip and conda than we’ve traditionally had. The same would be true of pip and Linux distros - our message for a long time has been that pip install X is absolutely the wrong way to install Python packages into your Linux system Python.
Maybe that’s what you’re suggesting with the “data file in the base Python” comment? So users would go to PyPI, find instructions to do pip install X, try that and get told “nope, you should use apt-get install python-X instead”? That doesn’t seem like it’s going to reduce user confusion, I’m afraid… (It’s OK for experienced users, but those are the sort of people for whom the current “be your own integrator” model is acceptable).