Hook node_access for any node type

Hi,

I need a node_access hook in a module, that is called for node types that are not defined by the module (standard node types like 'page' and types created with the CCK). The node module will only invoke HOOK_access on the module that define the node type.

To get around this problem, I added the following lines to node_access, effectively introducin a new nodeapi operation, 'access':

Line 2024 in node.module 6.10:

    $module = node_get_types('module', $node);
    if ($module == 'node') {
      $module = 'node_content'; // Avoid function name collisions.
    }
    $access = module_invoke($module, 'access', $op, $node, $account);

+   // Allow modules to grant or deny access.
+   $access_result = node_invoke_nodeapi($node, 'access', $op, $access);
+   foreach ($access_result as $access) {
+     if (!is_null($access) {
+       return $access;
+     }
+   }
  
    if (!is_null($access)) {
      return $access;
    }

This works fine but requires a patch to the node module.

So, now I have q couple of questions:

- Is there an equally simple way to achieve this without patching the node module?

- If not, is using nodeapi with a new operation a good idea or is it better to introduce a new hook altogether?

- Is there any chance that this could be introduced into Drupal?

TIA,
Gunnar