Problem is, all those are preference settings that change with each user's preferences, and at the end of the day they need to default to something, so it only makes sense that they default on what might be most useful for most users.
Never have used Ctrl+Tab so no point in disabling it. Never going to push those keys, so the default doesn't bother me at all.
> about:preferences#general > Downloads > always ask where to save
I do _not_ want having to indicate where to save. That's why I have a Downloads folder; everything downloaded must go to the Downloads folder, no questions asked. I'll delete or organize later.
> about:preferences#home > Firefox Home Content > disable all except Top Sites
> about:preferences#privacy > Firefox Data Collection and Use > disable
I don't really mind. Depending on the mood, it will be disabled or left enabled upon a new installation. If it helps them develop Firefox, I'm willing to let Mozilla snoop a bit.
> Set in about:config extensions.pocket.enabled to false
Never used Pocket. Could disable it, but I just hide the icon. Lately I've been thinking that maybe I'm missing on some nice feature that the browser is offering me and I'm ignoring...
> Install the addons: uBlock Origin, Gesturefy, Firefox Multi-Account Containers
Those are your choice of extensions. Although I coincide with uBlock and the Multi-Account ones. The later, though, is just in a very preliminary development state; it needs much more work IMHO to be even a candidate for integration into the default installation. Right now, it is too minimal (missing convenience features such as exporting the settings and sync with the official Mozilla service)
> I remove the home button
I want my Home button. I have to explicitly enable it in Chrome, so I could complain about the same thing you do.
> I remove the sidebar button
I want my sidebar easily accessible, frequently swapping between "Tabs" and "Bookmark Search Plus 2". My sidebar is 99% time open.
> I reject every Firefox pop-up that wants me to enable Sync or whatever
I want my Mozilla account set up for synchronization of everything it allows (except history). It's a fundamental part of my workflow and it's the first thing I enable after a clean installation.
In summary, your preferences are just as valid as mine and any other person's, so I'd understand that they will never find a perfect set of defaults that would satisfy everybody.
Just as a quick counterexample, in my case:
> about:preferences#general > Startup > restore previous session
Same.
> about:preferences#general > Tabs > uncheck Ctrl+Tab cycle
Never have used Ctrl+Tab so no point in disabling it. Never going to push those keys, so the default doesn't bother me at all.
> about:preferences#general > Downloads > always ask where to save
I do _not_ want having to indicate where to save. That's why I have a Downloads folder; everything downloaded must go to the Downloads folder, no questions asked. I'll delete or organize later.
> about:preferences#home > Firefox Home Content > disable all except Top Sites
Same for me.
> about:preferences#privacy > Permission > Notification Settings > Block new requests
Same for me.
> about:preferences#privacy > Firefox Data Collection and Use > disable
I don't really mind. Depending on the mood, it will be disabled or left enabled upon a new installation. If it helps them develop Firefox, I'm willing to let Mozilla snoop a bit.
> Set in about:config extensions.pocket.enabled to false
Never used Pocket. Could disable it, but I just hide the icon. Lately I've been thinking that maybe I'm missing on some nice feature that the browser is offering me and I'm ignoring...
> Install the addons: uBlock Origin, Gesturefy, Firefox Multi-Account Containers
Those are your choice of extensions. Although I coincide with uBlock and the Multi-Account ones. The later, though, is just in a very preliminary development state; it needs much more work IMHO to be even a candidate for integration into the default installation. Right now, it is too minimal (missing convenience features such as exporting the settings and sync with the official Mozilla service)
> I remove the home button
I want my Home button. I have to explicitly enable it in Chrome, so I could complain about the same thing you do.
> I remove the sidebar button
I want my sidebar easily accessible, frequently swapping between "Tabs" and "Bookmark Search Plus 2". My sidebar is 99% time open.
> I reject every Firefox pop-up that wants me to enable Sync or whatever
I want my Mozilla account set up for synchronization of everything it allows (except history). It's a fundamental part of my workflow and it's the first thing I enable after a clean installation.
In summary, your preferences are just as valid as mine and any other person's, so I'd understand that they will never find a perfect set of defaults that would satisfy everybody.
EDIT: Added separation between paragraphs