Just to clarify my position, I really like the blue dot as a visual indicator. Being able to see immediately which settings have been changed or are actively in use is genuinely useful.
My concern is specifically with using that same indicator as an instant reset button.
The reset function is not obvious until you hover over it, and even then the cursor partly covers the information explaining what it does. To someone who does not already know the interface, particularly a client editing their own site, it could easily look like something they are meant to click for more information rather than a destructive action.
The potential cost of an accidental click also feels disproportionate to how frequently the reset function is likely to be needed. A user could remove a setting or content without realising what they have done, continue working, save the page, and only discover the problem later. That could create a difficult issue to diagnose, particularly if they cannot remember what was previously entered.
I appreciate that resetting may become more useful if elements eventually inherit a defined baseline style. Even then, I think the safest behaviour should be the default.
A few possible approaches might be:
- Keep the blue dot as an indicator only, with reset available through a right-click or separate menu.
- Show a clear confirmation before resetting.
- Provide a preference such as “Identify only” or “Identify and reset”, defaulting to the safer identify-only option.
- Allow an immediate undo after a reset, with a clear message explaining exactly what changed.
I am not against the reset function itself. I just think a potentially destructive action should be more deliberate and more clearly identified, especially in an interface that will also be used by less experienced clients.
