Just tossing another idea out there...

How would you feel if in a future version of DDR, a new, optional type of "extra steps" were added to stepcharts, even preexisting ones?

These wouldn't count -against- your scores/combos/life should you neglect them (and can even be disabled for purists' sake - or in fact, would only be enabled if you turned them ON), but would maybe result in a small additional "bonus" for nailing them in addition to the normal routine? For instance, a verse or two in some light charts would play more like standard ones with these inserted, and the Expert charts would result in more deep and complex routines that might actually change the stepping flow a little bit in the more "spurty" or easy parts.

I can understand *not* using these (or not using them much) in boss-level charts, because in those, you may want every step "to count," right?

About the only good comparison I can draw, is something sorta like the "guitar solo" system in Rock Band. It's not like the entire stepchart gets modified/complexified... just a section or two, either during an otherwise really easy part, or where the song would be most fitting for a big, showy climax.

Maybe it could also be used turn parts of "plain stepping" sequences (on any difficulty) into freeze-stepping sequences, jumping sequences, or skipping sequences, as well. But that's more like StepMania's auto-generating "insert" mods, and isn't *quite* what I mean... I'm talking about deliberately-planned steps/routines, here. Plus, it's a "sort of safe" way to practice up for a higher difficulty level.

(In fact, it could be as simple as playing one verse or so near the end on the next difficulty, and simply adding an extra chart to that verse, for when it's at it's maximum [Heavy/Challenge].)

I think that feature existed in old DDR, I forgot which one though.

In DDR Extreme 2 (PS2) there was in Dance Master mode select songs with "secret" unseen steps that were hidden in certain stages of the map. Hitting these steps with a great rating or higher will activate them unlocking features in the game. In DDR Ultramix, they introduced healing steps that gave an extra boost of health when pressed. They were often harder to step to than the original stepchart of that paticular song. There were also poison steps too.

I would say no on this one.

I can see it being used to up the difficulty on a song they like, but why step more when you don't have to?

I'm really not sure about this but it depends on the quality of the stepcharts really. One thing that I really liked though are the shock arrows and ideas of replacing some arrows in the same stepchart into a different sort of gimmick as a 'CHALLENGE' stepchart.

I like this idea.  The problem for those of us that are 'experts' is that most of the charts are easy to the point of being boring.  Your idea would add an extra optional challenge so there's more songs that are fun to do. 

Extra steps that could give extra points, huh? I would view the new chart as the max score and consider the original the "easy" version.

If it means adding replay value to songs I've already played (a la pokemon convincing me to once again catch 'em all), or putting more challenge into songs like Forever Sunshine (was going to say Keep On Liftin' but it's not in X, rawr), then I'm definitely in support of your idea.