While it's a good idea to get the PENTAX name out there I don't think it would fly.
I cut my teeth on a K1000, like many here, back in 2002 with countless hours of reading on which body to get. Everything pointed back to the K1000 as it was touted as the best beginners camera being completely manual, recommended more than any other especially for photo classes. I was sold! I learned a lot. A few months after I bought a Canon AV-1, lol.
5 years later in 2007 shopping for a digital body I was immediately drawn to PENTAX again only for the fact they carried over the K-mount. It was cool to think I could use all my K-mount glass of which I never use anymore due to less than stellar optical quality, either bad CA, low resolution, poor contrast. If it wasn't for that or being seduced by all these stunning primes, which I never did buy, I'd probably be shooting Canon or maybe Nikon.
While it's a good idea to get the PENTAX name out there I don't think it would fly. A lot of people jumped ship back in film days after putting the K1000 on the shelf, perhaps due to what wasn't available sticking with the brand. The same holds true now. You start with a K-r, the only real upgrade choice is a K-5 and you're always on the precipice of anticipation of what new lens they may pump out next. What a horrible addiction, damn you PENTAX, I want my K-5.