You might not have found my alternate solution useful but I would have found your answers to my questions invaluable.

"Why" questions when people make requests are essential to help getting at the root issue. I doubt the root problem is "I don't want to see app X" (well, I guess it could if the app offends you). Looking at the root problem helps open up the field of possible solutions even if in the end you end up going with the exact same solution.

Now this can go too far and that depends on various peoples situations. For me, the GNOME folks seem to be going too far with their ideas for replacing tabs.

I don't mean this to be me taking issue with your idea. I'm just interested in seeing what other ideas can be generated.

Joys of ambiguities introduced by text-only communication.

"the feature"? Does Download Assistant have the ability to hide applications? Are you referring to seeing new / updated applications?