Agreed. At his age Ratzinger could only be a transitional Pope, but he would be a rock on which to build for the future. I wish him well, and may the Holy Spirit guide the conclave as well as in the election of John Paul II.
Even if he only has five years in the tank...
That would be fine. He could spend it all in Rome, and that would be enough time to clean house. Swing the meat cleaver. Break out the lumber. Throw around big metaphors.