@twil69 - the notification button is not permanent - I'd complain too if that were the case. Easy to dismiss any new items and button will hide. Don't stress too much.
Well, technically you may be right.
But
lor74cas described quite nicely what will happen most of the time: this thing will disturb you when you have
no time to deal with it and just want it to go away. And when you
do have time you will not remember.
So it is more about the perception as something useful or something annoying. And since there are established notification alternatives (that most apps seem to agree upon) I dont see why Locus needs something different.
I always prefer pull mode (deal with things when I have time for them) instead of push mode (being interrupted).
The status of a download is visible in the Android status bar and when I want to read the Locus blog I go to feedly. Everything is already there. I personally dont need more. But let the user community decide.