Main HD libray/system folders & User library/system folders

I think this is quite an advanced question, so I hope I can get some serious help on this:
Since I am the only User on my lappy I've come to conclusion that the often mirrored HD/User libs are a waste of disc space. Can anyone recommend a good way, or software application (if any,) to create a main libs set where most of the folders are, albeit either on HD/ or /User/...?

Though the folders and even some of the files may have the same name, quite frequently the contents of those files are quite different and the applications that reference them expect to find both versions...
As an example, looking at
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iMovie.plist
and
/Users/~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iMovie.plist
The first file has one entry: the default location for themes.
The second has 46 group entries (with several subentries) and has all the user specific preferences.
Trying to combine them would require doing it on a file by file basis-adding the settings exclusive in one to the other-and hoping nothing gets screwed in the process.

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    Message was edited by: Cathy B.

    Whew, that's what I thought. Thanks for confirming

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