To say that K9 work can be done independently of K8 would be incorrect. I don't think
you are saying this, but I wanted to clarify.
No but certain specialities have little pullback after a certain point. Architects might
be pulled back from K9 etc for a short time to evaluate whether to increase the number
of X, Y, or Z resources and by how much in the K8 shrink but for the most part their
involvement with K8 ended years ago. Logic guys would get called back to help with
functional errors but for the most part the logic design doesn't change in a shrink.
Where K9 will run into resource issues these days is with circuit and layout people.
Circuit guys will be needed to raise K8 frequencies and for circuit tune-up and voltage
related circuit mods in the K8 shrink. Layout, verification, and test guys would be heavily
committed to K8 respins and K8 shrink and proliferation.