No, it doesn't have to, but with your examples I'd still have to revert to desktop to change to a different preset, so then I might as well just open xterm anyway. I'm not complaining, I've just filed the status area thing in the back of my mind as a sweet setup to have some time. And it took on a little more urgency now with 720p video, where I'd maybe be switching to/from DSP more often.