Basically, what you are suggesting requires a Log (most likely of the entire repository) for every refresh. That will be too expensive.

Can you please give more details on where you would expect to see this functionality? I guess the Log Files' view would be the appropriate place?

Good point. This will also be helpful to immediately recognize that the "first parent" mode is currently active -- something that was slightly confusing me for my tests ... this will be present in the next (upcoming) build 13138.

Available as "experimental" feature in latest 18.2 Preview build (13137): set Low-level property "experimentalFeaturesEnabled=true" in the Preferences, then Show Only First Parents will be available from the Commits view hamburger menu.

The Commit window is a dialog and IMO it does not make sense to duplicate functionality here. Instead, you may build your commit message step-by-step using Window|Commit Message.

Open From Working Tree will do the same as Query|Open from the main window, especially configured Tools (from the Preferences) will be applied. In your case, there seems to be a Tool configuration which points to the invalid path "C:\Program Files (x86)SmartGitHg\git\GitT\Bash.vbs".

As a workaround, you can just open Window|Show Working Tree Window .