In reply to Chip Bennett.

#2 is hilariously ironic! WP has one of the most inconsistent UI/UXs out there. When the theme customizer first appeared, it looked totally out of place (and still does). UI/UX consistency is a big failing of WP (even before you install any themes or plugins).

Look how many different media screens are there - and each a bit different to the others. Look how different the pull down help is to any other part of WP? And look how different the settings screens are to other data entry screens? The menu editor, the widgets editor, the them browser, the plugin browser etc etc etc.

It's like you've got 10 different design teams all working on their own part of WP.

And the customizer is the most out of whack with the rest of WP of any part of the admin. As UI/UX there's nothing else in WP like it. It's like you're using a whole new software.

So you can't argue consistency, because those theme devs with their own options page were often much more consistent with the WP UI/UX than customizer is or ever will be.

So if you want to argue "consistent user experience", tell WP to clean up their own backyard first.