LR2 Filter Bar - Way to improve: a detailed analysis.

Question

I like the functionality and the ease of use of the new filter bar in comparison with the old Metadata Browser, but
* positioning it on the "sacred" space of the work area,
* doubling of the refine filters in the filter bar and filmstrip bar,
* unavailability of it in the other modules and even in loupe view and, therefore, lack of any indication whether you have an active filter and what is being filtered
is upsetting me to the point that I'd rather have the old cumbersome mega-hierarchical Metadata Browser.
I think Adobe must stick to a clear design principle here:
b The user must be clearly aware about the set of the images he is working on, regardless of the active module or view mode.
This leads us to the following: The filter affects the contents of the filmstrip. And the filmstrip being the only bridge between LR's modules, must host all the filters or, at least, clearly inform us about their status.
Yes, I understand that you can't poke the whole former metadata browser into the filmstrip bar, but this is not even necessary. On a day to day basis, the most often used filter criteria are flags, ratings and labels. They should be always available and visible on the filmstrip bar as they were before. However, the power of metadata filter may be hidden behind a filmstrip button, that indicates the status of the metadata filter, and can only be shown in those rare situations when you need to filter by lens, location etc. The filter itself will pop-up, or slide-out when the button is pressed. Because it is rare when one uses such specific filtration, that won't bother us cluttering the workarea. I know, it sounds like the Aperture way. Yes, except that aperture got it wrong hiding the vital rating and flag filter in a drop-down box. As for the text search box, I think it's not a problem to fit it in the filmstrip, next to other filter controls.
And, voila! We have the old clean uncluttered interface, the new power and ease of use and the most important peace of mind, because we always know where we are and what we see the Breadcrumbs text show the source of image as selected on the left-hand panel, and the filter shows, well, the filter status.
P.S. If Adobe also gives and option to always show filmstrip bar, even when the filmstrip itself is hidden, I'll be the happiest person on this forum. :)

Answer 1

I have some real issues with the filter pane the way it is now as well. It's a pseudo-customized column view, which takes up more space and loses some things (hierarchy in geography, for one) that the old metadata browser had. Plus there's now a duplication of the ability to filter by color or rating... one on the film strip (which I used a lot in v.1 and really liked), and one above in the new "metadata browser."
I prefer the old way... especially because now the left panel is largely empty (with moving the keywords to the right, and removing the metadata browser). The engineers obviously prefer the new way... but it's got a number of things which don't seem right to me. It absolutely needs refinement, if nothing else.