Multiple linkshells suggestion.

[Alhanelem]

w/o being locked on shell[4]

You're not locked on anything. You just press a given linkshell's key whenever you want to send a message to that linkshell. it's a lot faster than typing a multi-character slash command.

*ls hotkey1*
hey, lets hang out tonight
Oh? What time?
Okay, see you then
*ls hotkey 2*
I can't do that tonight, I'm meeting someone else
Sorry!
*ls hotkey 1*
OK, everything's all settled now
I'll be ready!

versus

/ls1 hey, lets hang out tonight
/ls1 Oh? What time?
/ls1 Okay, see you then
/ls2 I can't do that tonight, I'm meeting someone else
/ls2 Sorry!
/ls1 OK, everything's all settled now
/ls1 I'll be ready!

One is much less work than the other. Guess which one?
Top, person had to press three buttons between sending 7 messages.
Bottom, person had to press 28 buttons (4 characters in each slash command x7) in sending 7 messages.

There's nothing "permanent" about the switch. Just press the hotkey for the original shell and switch back.