Usually my files are not located in the library folders before importing. I import from a separate partition and move the files with MC tools after tagging and analyzing them. This also helps to keep the library partition unfragmented.
In my opinion anything can be changed in the import function if it is an improvement for the other users. Just let me switch the auto-sync off and don't take away my 1, 2 and 3. (and the way to clean the deleted files library manually: http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=28266.msg196517#msg196517.)
I actually manage my imports in much the same way, though I do use the
Import Media tool. For me, it's convenient to have the ability to have a list of selectable locations to check for files. Most of my new files end up in one of three disk locations (the general "New" partition, the Photos' New location, and my AutoGK output directory. I keep MC's Import Media tool's list with these folders added and selected. I also have a bunch of other locations entered into the tool too, but typically de-selected. It's nice to be able to quickly select
M:\music for those few times when I need to re-scan that entire folder, but in general things only get moved to that folder after they've been imported into MC and properly tagged. I use MC's Rename Files from Properties tool to move them to their "final destinations" after they're all set. So generally, scanning
M:\music just takes a bunch of extra time for no benefit. It's still good to have it there though because occasionally I'll need to give it a scan to see if anything is left behind.
The option to designate certain locations as "Auto-Import" would be helpful for those three "new" folders I mentioned, but I'd still like to retain the ability to manually scan any folder I choose for the purposes of Importing only. As others have mentioned, when using Network Drives (or even just really large folders) the auto-scan could quickly become unweildy unless you had plenty of options.