More experiments with the ASR beta showed that the update is significantly faster than before, but after/during mass operations it still slows down the whole behaviour if auto-apply is used in my big collection. So for the time being I will not use it in these times where I am permanently re-arranging, updating, cleaning, retagging thousands of files. Maybe later, for finetuning of smaller amounts.
The tool itself is excellent - just the auto-apply-speed is not so good (yet) in my situation.
As to the 'any' field request: I just saw that it was added (by you or Steven?) recently in various dropdownlists. Including standard S&R. So thought i would perhaps be possible in other presets as well. I have no clue about background processes, values, etc. If it is not possible, so be it.
In the meantime I found that several presets can already scan up to 5 customizable fields in one go - that is already quite convenient.
If panel positions cannot remember their positions across MB sessions, then give it a fixed startup position elsewhere, not in the far left corner. With wide screens like mine it is too much scrolling ;-)
Sometimes I feel sorry to report issues, because I cannot express enough how thankful I am, first of all. But then I realize too that bug reporting is not a matter of complaining or demanding improvements, but a contribution to your work. Nice to hear you appreciate it.
Goodluck!