Open Radar

 
Summary:
I launched FCP X using Command-Option-Down to close the Applications window behind me, and got the following rather terrifying dialog:

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Do you want to delete the preferences?

Deleting the preferences will reset all application settings to their defaults.  Libraries/Documents will not be affected.

(Continue) ((Delete Preferences))

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There are four things glaringly wrong with this dialog:

1.  It shouldn't even exist.  The odds of deleting a prefs file actually fixing a real problem with an app are so vanishingly close to zero that I advise against it when people ask.  At best, it might appear to make a problem go away, only to have it resurface when the user figures out that some setting is wrong and fixes it.  At worst, it just annoys the heck out of the user and changes nothing.

2.  Both buttons, at least judging by the name, appear to do the same thing—delete the preferences.  There is no "Cancel".

3.  The Delete Preferences button—the dangerous choice—is the *default*, which is an egregious violation of the HIG, which says that the safe option MUST be the default.

4.  The dialog appears to be generated by some helper process and doesn't go away even if you force-quit FCP X.

An image of the dialog is attached.

Steps to Reproduce:
1.  Choose FCP X in the Applications folder.
2.  Hit Command-Option-Down Arrow.
3.  Keep the modifier keys down a little too long.

Expected Results:
I expected no dialog, but I'd settle for a HIG-compliant, force-quittable dialog that doesn't make me seriously consider rebooting just to get rid of it.  :-)

Observed Results:
See attached image.

Version:
OS X v.10.11.6
FCP X v.10.3.4