Auto-Update shading mode to accommodate Smooth By Angle Modifier (as it doesn't work as expected by default), rename either this or "Shade Auto Smooth" so their names match, implement notifications of mode change.

Hello, I'm requesting a feature update in Blender because the current implementation is very confusing.

Short description of issue:

I finally realized after using Blender 4.3 for several months that the reason Smooth By Angle modifier seems to work sometimes and not others without having to check "Ignore Sharpness" is because it requires the shading mode of the object to be set to "Shade Auto Smooth", which is NOT the default shading mode. The default shading mode is Shade Flat and it doesn't update when you throw this modifier on the modifier stack, so you won't notice ANY effect until you check the box.

Exact steps for others to reproduce the annoying issue:

1. Put any object primitive in the scene where dihedral face angles are less-than-or-equal-to 30 degrees. I recommend a UV sphere with the default 32 Segments and 16 Rings.

2. Throw a Smooth By Angle modifier on it. Notice that nothing is happening.

3. Check "Ignore Sharpness". Observe that it works now, but at the sacrifice of any edges you manually mark sharp.

4. Uncheck "Ignore Sharpness". The sphere is shaded flat again.

Go to Object -> Shade Auto Smooth.

5. Now the modifier works the way the end user expects.

The issue here is that even after using Blender since 2019 (six years), and almost every day since Blender 4.3 dropped (maybe this started in 4.2?), I was not aware that the modifier acts differently with different shading modes and I wasn't aware that this is what made the modifier work as I expected sometimes but not others.

Recommended changes:

1. When you put the Smooth By Angle modifier in the modifier stack, the object's shading mode should be automatically changed to "Shade Auto Smooth" AND a small but visible popup should appear (with a permanent dismissal button) notifying the user that the shading mode has been changed to accommodate it.

2. When you change an object's shading mode to "Shade Auto Smooth", a small but visible popup should appear (with a permanent dismissal button) notifying the user that the "Smooth By Angle" modifier has been added to the object to accommodate it.

3. THE SHADING MODE AND THE MODIFIER SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THE SAME NAME!!!!

Thanks guys, love you 😘