the reasons its implemented the way it is and not as an element in the panel layout dialog:
- elements in the layout panel are permanently displayed, excepting that certain elements/ panels can be overriden by hiding in a tab or view
- its only intended for when the left sidebar is collapsed and you cant access the navigator and as implemented replaces where the navigator would have been if the left sidebar isnt collapsed
- for new users, on the first startup "Playlists" will be one of the default tabs
I knew i would get this reaction and perhaps there is room for improvement to make it discoverable, but as mentioned its really only needed when the left sidebar is collapsed which will be the default for new users so it will be visible to select as a node when adding new tabs
At the very least there needs to be a way to toggle the playlist manager off and on like you can other elements. And the obvious place for that is the layout settings. There are no other navigation elements that have to be opened or closed by navigating to a different library location.
If I navigate to a playlist from the playlist manager, I should be able to turn off the playlist manager without navigating away from that playlist. That's not possible.
Music node should behave the same in the playlist manager as it does without it, but that's not true either. I can't tell if there's a filter applied, or change the filter. If I navigate to the music node within the playlist manager, I expect to also be in music node in the left sidebar. So with the playlist manager there are effectively two music nodes (inboxes, etc), and no indication of the relationship between them.
Once I "close" the playlist manager by navigating away, I don't expect it to come back when I use the navigation keys. Which is exactly what happens.
And if a new user wants to turn the playlist manager off or on, where are they most likely to look? The same place you turn off and on all the other sidebars and navigation elements.
The fact it's only needed/displayed if the left sidebar is collapsed seems like it could easily be handled in the layout manager. In fact, I think that would make it much easier for users to figure out the relationship between them, and why the navigator can't be opened when the playlist manager is there.