One of the things about dark sun is that it does things that WOTC may
not be willing to do.
For instance, actively excluding certain elements from the campaign. In fact, Dark Sun excludes a lot of material from the setting. Racially, many races are, by cannon, not present because they were exterminated long ago in the history of the setting. Those that are present are so drastically different that any material for these races outside of the setting are nearly useless, or peculiar to include. Take the arcane archer PrC; while there isn't anything about elves in DS that says that they couldn't practice this blend of archery and magic, there isn't anything about this race that suggests that they would need or want this kind of tradition. They aren't woodland archers or mages. They are desert wanderers and thieves. It would seem odd to use this PrC.
Could WotC publish a setting that actively shuts out material? Considering what we saw in 3rd ed, I am not sure that they could.
Greyhawk was their Tabula Rasa. Forgotten Realms, with all its detail is not so different that anything couldn't be used in it; one could even make a case for playing a warforged created by Lantanese gnomes. And Eberron took the design mantra that anything published could be used somewhere in the setting.
But then again, this is a new edition, and they may approach it differently.
But on to the setting: I think that it would be cool to get it back into a position where the Sorcerer Kings were back on top. Last we left off, most of the sorcerer kings are dead or gone. It would be nice to bring a few back.
So here's the status of the SK's...
Sacha and Wyan got squished by Rikus. It may be hard to bring them back. They were very sly, however. It would be cool to have them back in some respect.
Kalak is obviously gone, but it would be cool to kick off the setting with perhaps some attempt at resurrecting him. He seems to be something of a punching bag for pc's.
Dregoth is clearly going to be a major player, whatever happens. He knows the secrets to undeath, and would appear to be the most powerful SK alive.
Myron is long dead. He is an interesting piece of lore, however, and finding some way of making this past champion relevant to the present would be cool.
Hamanu is still around, and should remain so. A major power outside of the city of Tyr...
Ablach-Re was killed by Sadira. Her death just seemed so unlikely. I would like to see her return. Remember as well that Dregoth has a large dislike of her, considering she led the other SK's to kill him. Making her his undead puppet would be a dream come true for Dregoth...
Nibenay is an interesting character. I sometimes wonder about his relationship with Lalali-Puy. While they are technically in conflict, I kind of like the idea of a love/hate relationship. One moment, Nibenay is attacking Gulg. The next, they are romantically involved. Can you imagine the child of two SK's?
Sielba was the SK of Yaramuke and has been dead for some time... Again, how can we make this bit of Lore relevant?
Andropinis was banished to the black. I think I like the idea of him escaping prematurely.
Oronis is another factor. With so many of the SK's dead or so involved in themselves, it would be time for him to make his move. New Kurn perhaps isn't so much a secret any more.
Borys' story seems to be done. I think it is time for dregoth to take the reigns as the primary menace to Athas.
Daskinor will probably be as he always was. Locked up in Eldaarich with paranoid delusions.
Kalid-Ma supposedly could be returned from ravenloft to Athas. It is time to make good on that threat. And perhaps she brings a bit of Ravenloft with her?
And the questions of Irikos and Pennarin should probably be dealt with in the new book. It is clear that there are blatant contradictions, and finding some middle ground is probably the best.