I would really like a switch to automatically set the default to link or embed files as they are placed. Right now the default is set to link and there is no way to change that.
Here's my workflow to illustrate why I really need that:
Assembly: When I start designing a document I go into fierce image collection mode. I use my image libraries, I take screen shots (which go in the desktop, and I hunt from elsewhere. In Photoshop for instance, the default is set to embed, just as in Illustrator and I first make the initial images assembly. To have to worry about putting all the images that I want into a folder and decide on that before I've even gone into this initial layout process in creatively counterintuitive, at least to me (maybe others out there). Further, when I use some images from a program such as Realmac Ember (yes I use Bridge but I love Ember as well) I get a real mess -- in this case InDesign links the file to a very obscure hidden folder, which strangely enough almost serves my purposes because the file is seemingly managed without my having to worry about it. But this leads to a bloated hidden library issue, and when I unembed the desired files the copy that was created in the hidden Ember folder is not deleted. If the file were placed and the copy is created right into the InDesign document at placement time I'm guessing this wouldn't be an issue.
Refining: Then I start to go over, move things around, delete some images and only would I like to think about unembedding so I can work in Photoshop editing etc. But by that time I will create a folder to store these unembedded files. Easily 50% of the files should remain embedded and I don't want to have to mess with their file location and management unless I really want to unembed and edit afterwards.
The idea for the switch is to just turn on automatic file embedding at placement time, and to turn it off when you don't need or want that behavior anymore. It's set to be automatically off for everyone who's used to the traditional workflow but people like me can turn it on and off.
