Has anyone suggested that the inbox be separate mode with no side panel? My reasoning is that's where all the new stuff goes before you make a decision just like the physical inbox you would have on your desk. When you make the decision, the items are automatically removed from the inbox.
As for the Library, I think the problem is that the Library is a Folder and Projects are something else. Isn't a project simply a folder of action steps that one needs to do complete a project? If you use only the term Projects and have the ability to create sub-Projects, then there is no need for Folders. And moving the Inbox into it's own mode, the projects mode is simply a list of Projects. As for (multiple) single-action lists, there's is no need for them. A default 'No Project' project will suffice. And if you want to group some single action items, then by virtue of naming that group, aren't creating a project? If you say no, then what you are really doing is creating a context and so there's need to have multiple single action lists because contexts provide that.
As for the Library, I think the problem is that the Library is a Folder and Projects are something else. Isn't a project simply a folder of action steps that one needs to do complete a project? If you use only the term Projects and have the ability to create sub-Projects, then there is no need for Folders. And moving the Inbox into it's own mode, the projects mode is simply a list of Projects. As for (multiple) single-action lists, there's is no need for them. A default 'No Project' project will suffice. And if you want to group some single action items, then by virtue of naming that group, aren't creating a project? If you say no, then what you are really doing is creating a context and so there's need to have multiple single action lists because contexts provide that.