Display categories in column next to publish screen... I wish!

I was thinking concerning the CP publishing screen, it would be so nice to somehow list categories in a thin(ish) column to the right of the publishing fields (nesting snugly beneath the save/upload buttons) and do away with the categories tab. In my dream, these categories would be presented as a list of check boxes with separators for category groups.

This would make publishing entries that much quicker and easier for clients to deal with. People forgetting to publish a category is one of the biggest issues I have encountered. I know there is an extension to require a category selection. However, most of my situations don’t absolutely require them to select one, but does require them to select a category when appropriate.

I know there is an extension to open the category tab by default on a weblog basis, but then they get confused because the category tab is selected, and then go on to struggle with multiple selections using the ctrl click method.

I know there is an extension to convert the multi select category listing to checkboxes, but then you get this really huge list of categories that bumps the rest of the publishing fields out of view. Client becomes confused.

Having a column floating to the right in the publishing screen with checkmark categories just seems like it would be a winning solution for dealing with categories in the CP and avoiding crazy confusion with clients.

So, there you go. There is my Sunday night rant and my attempt at a wishlist for an extension 😊