We thought about ONLY having a watch folder system. (with the disabled + run now option for people that wanted full control)
Hmmm. And I think that is the problem right there.
I guess I just don't see why having it that way is
better than having both options (meaning quick access to "Check Folders Now" to force the manual import run). Especially considering that the code was already in MC11.1 (and the import routine is obviously still there), so it's not like you needed a bunch of new code. It seems very two steps forward, one step back.
Why not just keep the Import Media dialog from MC11.1, with all of it's functionality, but add a "Watch Folders" checkbox? I'd prefer the checkbox be added to each folder in the list individually, but if you want to only allow us to toggle the whole list watched vs. non, that's fine. It's probably too much code to bother implementing for the handful of people who would like it that way (I just happen to be one of those few).
Either way, as I said above.... I think the problem is, honestly, that you (the collective you there, not anyone in particular)
badly wanted to make it watched only. Not because it's really better that way, but because the background importing code you wrote was just so darn cool that it Just Really
Should be used that way (and it really is pretty cool). The implication is that if Otto doesn't happen to work for you (because of whatever), then you're just not setting up your library right. You just
wanted to remove all the manual options, but half decided not to, and you can tell.
I'm a fan of choice. The dialog needed a serious re-working, I agree (those scrolling lists stunk). If you want it to go in Options, with the tree-like control, fine, it's pretty workable as is. However, forcing users to dig into the Options panel to manually import, when we didn't have to before, seems heavy handed. It's a transparent "force us to use Otto" move (ala Microsoft only releasing DirectX 10 for Vista). Not a big fan of being forced. If it doesn't happen to work for me, then it just...