Bug#183470: dpkg: can't dependencies be checked before overwriting?

[Dan Jacobson <jidanni@dman.ddts.net>]

Package: dpkg
Version: 1.10.9
Severity: minor
File: /usr/bin/dpkg

Can't dependency problems be checked before the user blows away his
good version?

# dpkg -i /tmp/gnucap_0.33-2_i386.deb 
(Reading database ... 214178 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace gnucap 1:0.33-1 (using /tmp/gnucap_0.33-2_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement gnucap ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gnucap:
 gnucap depends on libgcc1 (>= 1:3.2.3-0pre2); however:
  Version of libgcc1 on system is 1:3.2.2-0pre8.
 gnucap depends on libstdc++5 (>= 1:3.2.3-0pre2); however:
  Version of libstdc++5 on system is 1:3.2.2-0pre8.
dpkg: error processing gnucap (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
 gnucap

Yes, I know about apt. I'm wondering why you can;t move the check just
a little earlier in the sequence of events.
-- System Information:
Debian Release: testing/unstable
Architecture: i386
Kernel: Linux debian 2.4.20-k7 #1 Tue Jan 14 00:29:06 EST 2003 i686
Locale: LANG=zh_TW.Big5, LC_CTYPE=zh_TW.Big5

Versions of packages dpkg depends on:
ii  dselect                       1.10.9     a user tool to manage Debian packa
ii  libc6                         2.3.1-10   GNU C Library: Shared libraries an

-- no debconf information