The Downside of modifier list as addon are the custom modifiers that have to be maintained by the addon dev. Without the developper’s effort, there will be no more list…
What is required to i prove the modifier list and all other UI lists in Blender are:
- Drag & drop in UI lists
- Select multiple items in UI list
- Keyboard navigation
Custom modifier buttons like modifier list addon provides are very helpful in reducing mouse movement as these buttons always reside in the same place. These are for most used user-configurable modifiers, where the user specifies the number of buttons. Optionally here could be a bunch of additional configurations so users have custom buttons for let’s say curve editing and mesh editing amongst others. These buttons add additional functionality with ctrl, shift or alt clicking the button to create empties in world origin, cursor or at selection center. And potentially allow users to specify a presets for other modifiers that open on ctrl/ shift/ alt click (i.e. weighted bevel with radial patch on ctrl click). Or how about custom modifier stacks with save and load options set to a button along the modifier stack (search “Smart Modifier stack - third request now w pictures” posted on a the user ideasboard of a competitor’s software).
Finally, a modifier stack order preference to configure the last modifier in the stack to be sorted from the top or bottom, this helps users who come from other packages and really should only apply to modifiers.
Keymap:
Keyboard navigation through lists using arrow keys or numpad, up and down arrow to move one item up, up arrow and number key to move N items up/ down (N = numeric input). And move selected modifier to top/ bottom of the stack with right/ left arrow
Similarly, you can have a select next/ previous/ first/ last modifier with arrow/ numpad keys (and modifiers). Pageup and down should be useable to scroll through a list or modifier stack, like they do in a webpage.
Together you can select and move a particular modifier quickly through the stack in addition to drag and drop (the longer the stack the more useful this will be). Imagine a moving a modifier with a numeric keypress to #2, or #5 in the stack.
I think the best solution is to have the modifier list addon as native to Blender, you can toggle it on or off from the panel itself (off = current layout) that way you can toggle both the modifier list AND user configurable modifier buttons.
By toggling the list off, you’ll have more real estate to scroll through the modifier stack, provided all modifier panels are closed. Users who use two property panels would then have access to the modifier buttons, the list AND a panel with the modifiers in the current mode. Either way you can go through multiple modifier settings and have the convenience that a modifier list provides. Surely this should satisfy all users…