[Usability] The New File Selector

[Uri David Akavia <uridavid netvision net il>]

Hello.

I have seen the new FileSelector on Footnotes, and I fail to understand
the logic underlying it. Specifically, I fail to understand removing the
text box, for entering the file name. While I accept that New Users may
hesitate to use it, one of the high points of the GNOME file selector
for me was tab-completion, allowing me quick and efficient file
selection.
I understand that some of the functionality remains, similar to mozilla
type-ahead. This is much weaker for several reasons - Lack of an ability
to see what has been typed, difficulty in correcting it and no easy
tab-completion (which I also used to create filters such as work*.png).
Could you please explain the logic of removing the text box, and the
very usefull functionality of tab-completion with it. (I understand that
I can get a text box by pressing Ctrl-L, but that is not an adequate
replacement for me) If it is possible to have a permanent textbox
present, by means of a Gconf key, most of my objections will vanish.

To summarize - could you explain the logic of removing the textbox? Is
it possible to return it, using a Gconf key (and if so, which key)?

Yours,

Uri David Akavia

PS
Please CC to me, as I am not subscribed.