Pilgrim, I'm very interested to delve a bit deeper in to your comments.

You say that Scripture gives no reason to assume that animals didn't die prior to the fall. That's encouraging since I don't see that Scripture mandates that view either. Typically I see this reason as being the underlying premise for which most people arrive at the need to hold to the 6 consecutive 24-hour day view. (Well, that and the perspective that I began this thread about...the idea that the original creation must have been God's perfect intention and death wouldn't be a part of that)
However, you seem to be advocating that position simply from the Scriptures. I'd like to talk more about that if you'd like. I have a quote from Augustine that indicates He wasn't willing to assume 24 hour days. Perhaps you could briefly explain why you feel that interpretation is mandated by the text. In a nutshell, I'd say that if someone like Augustine (in the pre-science era) wouldn't assume 24 hour days from the Hebrew then why now, when we have so much more information available via natural revelation, would we conclude they must have been?

In regard to the 28,000 or so species statement. We may end up getting into the issue of what role natural revelation plays. We see from zoology and paleontology that there have been innumerable species since the creation. (here we're assuming that God had stopped creating by day 6). We could talk about what the Hebrew actually says and perhaps build the case that not all species or 'types' were necessarily included...is that your position? You seem to leave the door open also for some super hyper speed evolution to have populated the world. Science/Evolution is one of my specialty areas and I'm adamant that macro-evolution doesn't and hasn't happened.