Just FYI... I do completely agree it's a PITA right now, I have been able to minimize this almost entirely by adding a shortcut to my toolbar to (upon clicking) load the "manager" plugin.
The short directions:
- Unlock your toolbars if you have them locked.
- Move the current item out of your very first toolbar button slot on your main toolbar (this is just temporary... drop it into an open slot).
- Issue the command: /shortcut 1 /plugins load manager
- Now drag that shortcut to where you want your "click here to load your plugins" button.
- Move your original toolbar button item back into the first slot.
- Lock your toolbars if you want.
- Profit
Once you have "manager" configured, all you need to do is remember to click the shortcut button. Since it's black it kind of stands out so I tend to see it and remember to load them whenever I log in.