Whatever might be the actual process of evolution (mutation? design?) nothing evolves that is not inherently potential.  This we can agree on (because it is now obvious since it has happened and here we are).

This notion of potential is extremely misleading.  Did bacteria have the "potential" to become humans?  I think not.  Countless, unexpected phenomena and millions of rolls of the dice allowed for a gradual evolutionary path that lead from one to the other but that's quite a different thing. 

The argument between the Darwinists and the Designists is premature and unresolveable at this time.

I disagree.  The argument's ready-to-go any time the Designists are willing to accept the overwhelming evidence that Darwin was right.  DNA and our exploration of the genome(s) proves that in spades.