After Effects Update Solves Problem I Didn't Realize I Wanted Solved
I was scrolling through the list of enhancements to the latest update of After Effects. And -as seems to happen in each release - near the bottom of the list in the section of 'oh we also did these other little things' was something that pleased me:
"Center anchor point in new shape layers"
Finally, one of the irritating things about shape layers - the anchor point for new shape layers always goes at the center of the composition and not the layer itself - is gone.
I use shape layers in nearly every project. This little throwaway item made my day.