The Python scripting feature included in ProPack is probably going to let our programming compatriots address some of these things. Phil C has posted a script in the ProPack Freestuff that sets all the materials of a figure to white. I don't know enough to write one myself, but it looks like the morph dials are accessible in Python, so a dial management utility seems possible. The entire community's collective knowledge level (pro and amateur) is taking a leap forward right now.