Earlier quoted context omitted.
Honestly, this particular complaint reminds me a lot of UAC. After decades of people complaining that Windows account security was too lax, they implement the graphical popup equivalent of `sudo`. Then proceed to get skewered in public opinion for having done it. Yes, proper security means you will be inconvenienced. In the same way that you would be inconvenienced if your bank called you to confirm that $10000 wire…
If only. sudo, as configured out-of-the-box on Ubuntu, gets out of your way and lets you work (Except if you haven't properly authenticated in the last 15 minutes); polkit is similarly out-of-your-way. Sudo is also (relatively) easy to configure: "this command line can be run under sudo by anybody", "this command must not be run under sudo even if they know their password", etc. UAC is always-in-your-face about every…
"UAC is always-in-your-face about everything..."
Not true: UAC only pops up for apps that need to access a file/registry key, etc. that affects system-wide behavior
"... often unexpectedly - it hijacks your desktops at inopportune times ..."
This isn't true: UAC pops up precisely when an app is launched that needs to access/modify a system-wide resource. If you're running apps that OFTEN need to access system-wide resources, you could choose to run them as admin and avoid the UAC pop-ups ... while also hoping that those apps are not malicious or over-enthusiastic about "helping".
"and there's no way to tell it "Yes, this software can do this again for the next 15 minutes without asking me again"."
There kinda is - just run the app as Admin. It'll then run with admin rights until you close it.
Of course, without specific examples of what you see as erroneous behavior, I've posted what are, I am sure, inadequate responses to your specific issues. If you'd like to share you specifc issues, I am sure we could have a more fruitful dialog and who knows, I may be able to carry your case internally to see if we can improve things in future OS releases (no guarantees here other than my trying my best).