Regarding 0 -
joomla.cmsbg.info/downloads
(Left column) - this is categories module, specially when u have shop with over 50 main categories and with up to 5 sub-levels of subcategories. Breadcrumbs is not the same. And the back button is the same, Tree is best, clicking main category - shows first level of subs belongs to main cat 1, clicking lvl 2 subcategory shows sub-level belong to current and so on.
Regarding 1 - One module for everything ? Well, this can be useful for some, but is not user friendly, I'm watching how my client react on this. Better is 10 or more modules, but every one dedicated to do something. Otherwise, when site is build once, by most contracts it's have to be maintained by the owner, if there is no special clause creator to take part of maintenance. Technical maintenance is another point, but organization of the modules (at the beginning he/she cant have popular products, bcz shop is just starting) and products. Creating, Editing, Deleting Products, adding/updating shipping(couriers) methods etc.
With enabled/disabled - content synchronization, situation is the same (probably bugged host, already noticed some problems with JoomShopping there, but JShopping is bugged by default ).
Just create.... what about if shop have (let see how much have my current shop... over 15,000 products, am I have to check every hour which product have most hits/sells and to copy it to that category ? This option is very bad released in Hika. (done by a custom script -
jarcomputers.com/l_en/?m=0
) - still some of the content is in bg-BG, but bcz is buggy and there is no replacement option among the e-commerce extensions compatible with any of the J! versions. And sublevels leads to manufactures instead of classes, bcz "put a blonde behind computer and watch the action"
If you have 300 Laptops and 200 Printers (let say 2 categories only), why the people looking at Laptops category should see the popular printers too ? They want to see Popular Laptops as whole, Popular (after selection) by manufacturer) per sub-category (low, medium, high class). Same is for recommended. Why someone browsing Laptops/Low Level by Acer (as manufacturer) will not be able to see the recommended by the shop based on different ratings model(s).
Just this idea for releasing one module for everything is not the best option for e-commerce. Popular can be based on several options: Rate (Votes), Hits, Sells. Per category, per manufacturer, per customer reviews, like JED is made.
Recommended can be set by several options:
Equal price <-> quality, does fit for that or this tasks etc.
Latest (almost same as popular) (and those tons of copied modules on 1.7 causes slow speed) products: Per Category, Per Manufacturer.
Promotions - selected by the owner specific number of products, per main page, category.
Menu Link option to show Popular/Latest/Promoted products instead of categories.
Cookie based module - for showing, what's the user watched this session (even guests).
Search per SKU, Title, Short, Long description, Price
Price tracker can be good option, at least for dealers.
Also there is no option, one product to be removed, but link to it to remains with simple note - No Price, or No Sells. To avoid generation of 404 pages, when one or another product/series is removed from the market. Obsolete example -
jarcomputers.com/p_VCA1536MINNO3DGTX580
, it's not on the market anymore, don't belong to any categories, search ignores it. But if u search trough google for it, u can found it.
Regarding 5 - Menu is ok, but module with image + short description pop-up on links is better. Something like the vision of Slick RSS, but for the orders.
Regarding 11 - Did I said only VM ? Since Hika Shop is multi-platform (version) compatible, there should be import at least from the same multi-version apps, specially useless one. VM is ok, JShopping ?
Didn't saw and option for auto-sync with European Central Bank about the exchange rates. (in case the shop uses several currency)
Will wait and see what 1.5.5 will brings, but for now Joomla! don't have e-commerce solution, no matter paid or free apps.