Quite sometime ago I sent an email to IB with a few sugestions, rapid ticker input being one of them. I suggested that IB should give the user the ability to choose a default instrument type (ie stock), and default route (ie BEST). Then simply by typing the ticker symbol on the quote page user would be able to make that instrumet ready for trading instantly, without the annoying popups. I also suggested that the "insert ticker" menu function should be left unchanged, with all the popups, instrument type and routing options.
Well that was quite sometime ago, and now I can see the rapid order entry which is an unnecessary complication, imho. I prefer to spend that extra 10 seconds going through the popup windows than use that box. Just my opinion though.
Another thing I suggested was a different sound the TWS should play when the order is executed. Right now you don't know what's beeping you, your news software, you got mail, or you just bought 10000 shares of ene @ $50.
I need to verify that, but I'm under impression that the current P/L function isn't working properly while calculating P/L on overnight holds, and it apparently doesn't know how to calculate P/L based on the average price of the position you were accumulating. Maybe I'm doing something wrong here?