It was explained:
- The material library is functionality, not just a collection of materials, so it would need writing from scratch. We are focusing on core elements like Team Render compatibility etc. first. At some point after these core features are looked at and working as expected, we'll revisit the possibility of the material library. (BTW, since this is coding, this is different than having someone create materials for Max, as they won't be a developer - it wouldn't make sense not to continue to develop what is in Max for no reason other than "it isn't in C4D yet", and the work in no way takes away from the C4D development since coding is required on the C4D side, and that is not what that job is for).
- The materials would need conversion - however, it might be that we come up with cross-platform materials while looking into other things like "save materials with proxies" which would then invalidate converting them. Until we know more, it wouldn't make sense to start doing work that might then become redundant.
Cheers!