Yes. What I really would love is a writeup example along the lines of this. Explain the problem, explain the solution, provide a code example. Something with enough information where they could apply the technique to their own problems.
However, based on your description what you are really doing is applying the Proxy Item Design Pattern with a careful selection of devices that allow you to disable or separate the physical switch from the actuator.
There are not many consumer grade devices that will allow that which is what leads me to the conclusion that this is not quite so easy to accomplish in practice for most openHAB users.
I agree. We can do a lot with such a flag. My whole Dead Man’s Switch Design Pattern, the most complex and least reliable of all the Design Patterns I’ve come up with thus far and the source of the OP’s original post, no longer becomes necessary.
I don’t think anyone is proposing any change to OH that would prevent this. However, in some situations having the ability to implement some or all of one’s automation in the way described would be very useful.