This project is about utilizing technology meant for native token, but for a whole family of tokens.
One of them could become the native token, but for that it would need modification of node software for nodes to accept it as a payment for data storage, and perhaps validate it server(node)-side which would bring better speed and security.
Beyond basics, instead of going native, we choose to explore bridging and exchanging, because modification of node software would require full support and close collaboration with MaidSafe, and they are focused on other areas now. An alternative would be doing that without them, but this would mean reinventing a wheel and loosing much of the know-how, also putting a network to danger of forking.