Styles inconsistency

and massively improved pattern designer would be very welcome. Not that i don't love all these amazing patterns from the 90's, but maybe, just maybe we could create something better with a proper tool?

Sadly, even Illustrator hasn't added more tiling options since it first came out with the Pattern Options dialog.<sigh> It appears Adobe is willing to leave this to 3rd party plug-ins, IF there are any that anyone can afford. At least with Pattern Overlay, I do bring my own patterns with me. '-}

I'd be happy if Ps could simply catch up with what Illustrator has had for the last decade? longer? They've got a fantastic pattern/tile generator. Imagine having those options and a smart object/image based workflow. So much potential!

Right, and you noticed how quickly PS jumped on the Gradient Annotator bandwagon, or  the Color Guide panel, or Color Groups in the Swatches panel, or  . . . <g>

Do you suppose someone at the top management level is saying that if PS gets a Gradient Annotator or a Patternmaker, it will cut into Illustrator's customer base, because, um, SO many PS users will use Illustrator if they keep it to themselves, kind of like keeping Scopes away from PS so the video apps don't lose their customer base?  '-}

Totally!
If only someone had thought this through long ago... imagine having a modular software suite which would let you integrate new modules independently of the specific app. Oh, the Illustrator team created a new gradient editor... plug it into Ps!