Sounds intriguing.

The plugin not working without the WPDK framework is a non-issue.

(@Nicola - what happens if I am working and developing offline on localhost??)

You ever notice that a child theme stops working if you take away the parent?

Or that anything that uses a framework doesn't work without it?

Or that any WP theme or plugin needs WP.

I've started using the Redux Options Framework and rather than include it, will make it a user requirement. It's not as smooth or transparent process but makes my plugins have a smaller footprint, and allows the user to keep Redux up to date easily. If they have six of my plugins, why do they want to have Redux there six times? Just makes backups bigger and maintenance for me a lot more cumbersome.

@Nicola, will check out you WPDK, but (if you aren't already) would love to see it include an options framework and metabox framework. Currently I use Redux, HM CMB, and Tom's Boilerplate. Would really love to have one (modular) solution instead of three.