How about expanding the focus bar into a focus pane so that some options of the current focus (maybe some options in the mode bar, too) are presented more explicitly? This should make it more convenient to do multiple operations. For example, the horizontal and vertical alignment options in table cells can be presented simultaneously so that one needs only two mouse clicks instead of four.
In fact, TeXmacs has a Side tools in the View menu, but it shows nothing there. Does it serve any purpose?