Yes, I like that idea. Universal ways of doing thingis are good, they make learning quicker. Like Lego was in the old days before all the "special parts you can only use for one thing" came. (Lego iss still the best)
Mabe the thumbnail stuff could be an option if you need to place a plane on a double curved thing.

Do you know the program Artrage (www.artrage.com)? It has some nice interface tings.

-Fredrik