horizontal meters should auto switch to vertical when track is minimized

Good one. I like it. It should move any time the vertical height gets to small to accommodate it - not just at minimum. I used to use horizontal meters, but switched to vertical precisely for this reason. The one problem I foresee is that other widgets might disappear/re-order when the meter relocates, depending on how tall and wide the track header is and what you have showing. But that would just have to be understood.

I would probably use this as well. As long as the baker's could make all of the other settings remain relatively intact as the meter's switched location.