I’m all for it until the redesign is actually happening. The topic has been discussed quite a few times already, now. And very lengthy as well:
Proposal: Explicit Management of Data Blocks and (possible) Deprecation of Fake User (already posted by @thorn-neverwake )
I am also on the side that this has to be active by default. Though after reading through the issue on projects I do agree that an auto-purge solution and user awareness to purging unused data is actually a good thing. I just also vehemently disagree that unassigned animations and materials are actually automatically “unused” as well. If they are by company policy then this should be settable in the options. There have been many good and not so good options and ideas about it. The topic is in progress, ongoing and has entered “analysis paralysis” mode years ago, unfortunately.
I know what you mean, but I am afraid that if we get primitive solution there will be all the less incentive to have a proper one in the future.
There’s a great saying: “There’s nothing more permanent than a temporary solution.”
There’s another great saying: “the worst decision is indecision”. 