I can't believe this is still going..
 
Perhaps the quickest way for you would be:-
 
1) Press Shift + F (fit project to screen) - [1 or 2 / 1 + 2 key presses - I forget how you're counting these]
2) Write the new bloody names on the monitor with a felt tip pen over the top of the clips [Not sure how to count this, perhaps 1 SCRAWL]
 
TOTAL: No clicks, 1 or 2 (perhaps 1+2) keypresses, 1 scrawl
 
So much more efficient than 8.5.3
 
HTH
 
 
edited for typo - [3 keypresses]

Or you do it how Windows explorer does: basic, common functions on right click; fuller (full?) list of functions on shift right-click.

Tripecac
 
4) add back the option to open note properties by right clicking (instead of double-clicking)

Why would you wanna do that? Just coz you love it that way? Or are you of the idea that you may save some calories via right clicking than double clicking?

Had another look into this . I undocked the inspector window , resized the window so it only showed the clip properties . Moved the window to a convenient place on the screen .
So with the inspector window open ,
1 click to select clip to rename
1 click and drag to highlight old name
Type new name
Hit enter
To close or open the inspector window press I .

Two items I believe are FRs and would solve this (among many others) are 1) hotkey exposure to all internal functionality/calls (this would resolve most items for folks) and 2) macro capability within the application (with edit capability on those macros for pause points where data entry is desired). To add the icing on the cake, allowing for hot-key layouts to be swapped (similar to screensets) would allow for a much more detailed layout based on current workflow step (tracking, mixing, etc.), as well as macro assignment to hot-keys without running out of physical keyboard keys.
 
Realize, however, that although this sounds simplistic on paper, enabling macros to anticipate "user errors" and account for exception handling is not a trivial task.

3) add back the option to show ALL note velocities if NO notes are selected (to match both the documentation, and the pre-Platinum behaviour)

 
No thanks, I'm happy with it as it is now.

4) add back the option to open note properties by right clicking (instead of double-clicking)

 
No thanks, right click is currently reserved for other functions, I for one do not want this changed

5) add back the option to adjust timing and transposition in each track itself (not the inspector), so that you can see them for all tracks at once

 
You need to acquaint yourself with the Inline PRV which can do all this and more

Bristol_Jonesey

3) add back the option to show ALL note velocities if NO notes are selected (to match both the documentation, and the pre-Platinum behaviour)

 
No thanks, I'm happy with it as it is now.

4) add back the option to open note properties by right clicking (instead of double-clicking)

 
No thanks, right click is currently reserved for other functions, I for one do not want this changed

5) add back the option to adjust timing and transposition in each track itself (not the inspector), so that you can see them for all tracks at once

 
You need to acquaint yourself with the Inline PRV which can do all this and more

On these points, the way the X series does it is better than the old way.
 
Dan

Hence the word "option".  It's all about personalisation. 
 
It's like having a spellchecker support both American and English/Canadian/NZ/Aussie spellings.  Sure, some of you living in The Promised Land (TM) might think that all we need is the US spellcheck, and that adding any other non-US-centric functionality is a waste of time. 
 
Right click properties?  No thank you.  Gay marriage?  No thank you.  Gun control?  No thank you.  God Bless the American status quo!  Skylight uber alles.  Heil!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seriously though, guys...  What's so threatening about options? 
 

Now you just sound silly.

I think arguments against customisation are silly! 
 
As Craig pointed out, even Cakewalk is shifting their focus toward customisation! 
 
I find it half amusing, half alarming how doggedly people evangelise the New Status Quo (X1)... right after criticising someone for wanting the OPTION to personally reuse elements of the Old Status Quo (8.5.3). 
 
There is a huge difference for asking for an OPTION... and asking for the ELIMINATION of an option.
 
If you can't see the difference, then you haven't been watching the news.