With 9p's ability to send and receive arbitrary information as file i/o,
does http remain "necessary"?

Is there any reason that 9p cannot do this ...

''HTTP functions as a
request-response<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Request-response>protocol
in the
client-server <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client-server> computing model.
In HTTP, a web browser <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser>, for
example, acts as a *client*, while an application running on a computer
hosting <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_%28network%29> a web
site<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_site>functions as a
*server*. The client submits an HTTP *request* message to the server. The
server, which stores content, or provides *resources*, such as
HTML<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML>files, or performs other
functions on behalf of the client, returns a
response message to the client. A response contains completion status
information about the request and may contain any content requested by the
client in its message body.''
  -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Http#Technical_overview

 - Leonard