But the release should be called "7.8", not "7.7", no? So instead of the tried and trusted splitting procedure
release1 release2 ---7.x+1---O------------O---------- / 7.x ----* \ ---7.x+2---
you are suggesting we do
release1 release2 ---7.x+1---O-----*------O---------- / \ 7.x ----' \ \ ---7.x+2------
this time?