The idea is to bring back all Balloon settings back to "Settings" instead of current dimension styles definition.
In v8i there used to be an option (Settings - Balloon Settings) to set Balloon radius, text etc. settings and it was all project-based; those settings were copied with project options file to new projects.
Now those options are gone from that location and are controlled by dimension styles. It makes following problems:
1) Balloons settings are not project-based, you can make it workspace- or workset based, which needs additional effort
2) When creating a new project based on another one, you have to remember about ballons which are not included in project options XML file
The "core" may remain (balloons were always controlled by dimension style in background as I remember), but all options should remain project-based and included in Project Options file.
Agree 100%, the V8i balloon configuration was away better than the connect edition as stated above. In addition, balloon placement was so much easier using the mouse pointer to position multiple balloons horizontally or vertically instead of using drop downs. vertical balloon placement would stack the balloons without changing text orientation as well, please bring this back.