If LDraw code can be mapped onto a surface, it could have uses other than just patterns. You could use it e.g. to fix the bottom of 3941, where the stud notches don't fit into a fractional cylinder prim, so they show as flat spots when a hi-res cylinder is subbed in. Instead, you could project the entire bottom edge onto an underlying (invisible) full-cylinder primitive.
In fact, if LDraw code can be mapped onto geometric surfaces, then patterns (printed or sticker), as well as non-pattern geometry, could be mapped onto entire base parts, potentially making pattern and sticker parts obsolete. Patterns could exist in the library as a separate type of element, and by using established mapping parameters, could be applied at the model level to any base part. Library entries for patterned/sticker parts could exist simply of a correlation file referencing the base part, the pattern element, and the appropriate mapping parameters to represent official parts.
In fact, if LDraw code can be mapped onto geometric surfaces, then patterns (printed or sticker), as well as non-pattern geometry, could be mapped onto entire base parts, potentially making pattern and sticker parts obsolete. Patterns could exist in the library as a separate type of element, and by using established mapping parameters, could be applied at the model level to any base part. Library entries for patterned/sticker parts could exist simply of a correlation file referencing the base part, the pattern element, and the appropriate mapping parameters to represent official parts.