konradh
How do you live without the drop-down for the markers ("auto-locate")? For me, being able to jump to a verse, chorus, ending, vocal pick-up, etc. is pretty important.
One weird thing I do is to put a marker called PU a bar before each marker so I have a pick-up leading into a section.
The PU marker is an interesting idea. I usually just put the marker a measure before the section so the count-in is there by design. Scrolling a measure to get to the actual start for editing is not a big deal. I am using more and more keyboard shortcuts and less mouse.
I also use a little Korg nanoKontrol, mostly when recording, for the transport controls and to arm, mute, solo tracks easily from several feet away.