This script and configuration makes the status bar only show when a command is being entered or the page is being loaded.

Script

#!/bin/sh
 
SHOW_STATUS=$8
 
if [ -n "$9" ]
then
 SHOW_STATUS=1 
fi
 
echo "set show_status = $SHOW_STATUS" > $4

Configuration

@on_event KEY_PRESS      spawn @scripts_dir/auto-status.sh 0 \@keycmd\@keycmd_prompt
@on_event LOAD_PROGRESS  spawn @scripts_dir/auto-status.sh 1 \@keycmd\@keycmd_prompt
@on_event LOAD_FINISH    spawn @scripts_dir/auto-status.sh 0 \@keycmd\@keycmd_prompt

Problems

When <Esc> is pressed, the command is cleared but the script still gets the previous command, so status bar remains open until another key is pressed.
It would be nice if the status bar would pop out briefly when mode is changed.
It would be nice to be able to force the status bar open regardless of whether there is a command entry.