I just had an idea regarding how effects work. What if there was an "effect layer" for each layer? Rather than the effect permanently change that layer, it could just be added onto that layer, rendered, edited, and removed at will. This way having to undo an effect wouldn't have to be done chronologically. And if later in the process we decided that an effect was not what we are looking for, we just turn it off and try something else-- the layer wouldn't have to be recreated.
Example:
I create some fine looking text.
I edit the effects layer for that layer to add a blur and an outline.
I then make all sorts of other layers, and I decide I don't like the way the outline looks.
So I can then edit the effect layer for that layer, and I turn off the outline.
I imagine that this would cause some resource opportunities (polite word for issues), as the effects would have to be "painted" on for everything.
How can we make this happen?