That could be a nice script:

The ability to cover any single surface with one repeated pattern.
For instance, you could select just the one knurl element, tell the script dialog things like size, count and the configuration, such as staggered or grid and the script would smartly "grow" the repeated pattern on a surface.
Of course, discretely using the Flow command.

This would lead to other fantastic abilities, such as a random Greeble option...

wow.