[Craig]

I've run into this a few times - total panic thinking this alpha software had deleted all my actions before I realized there was something in the search bar filtering them all out.

The solution I was thinking of proposing is this:

If there is something in the search bar, whenever the main pane changes its view (altering filters, moving from project to context view, etc.), the search bar itself blinks or flashes (just once or twice) as a gentle reminder that its filter is in effect.