I have to use a 3rd party Japanese IME precisely because of 2. No idea why they haven't add an option for it to be default to あ mode. Also, in ANY modern Chine

I have to use a 3rd party Japanese IME precisely because of 2. No idea why they haven't add an option for it to be default to あ mode. Also, in ANY modern Chinese IME (Microsoft or 3rd party), switching between English/中文 mode is simply pressing shift once. You still have to use alt+` for that in JP IME, which I find unbearable.