I absolutely LOVE your first idea, a healer's dream indeed
I currently use a group window mod similar to T. King's except with no frills, just the tightly stacked group bars with the effects icons to the right. I just have to have my groups bars stacked vertically, so much easier to see who needs healing than a horizontal design. I'm also kind of a stickler about having my group, personal and target windows' healh/power bars be the same size and length. I could probably deal with larger target and implied target bars if it was part of this great mod idea
I also have my maintained buffs bar very close to the group window for at-a-glance ease. Having ALL buffs right there would be too uber for words.
I am a huge space hog when it comes to windows, and like to have everything as streamlined as possible, and if the windows can interlock with each other for a more uniform "dashboard" look, all the better.
Please, anyone out there, run with this idea! Me love you long time!