Conversion of route options (feature requests)

[routeconverter]

I decided to convert this track to a route so it could be edited in another route-planning application. Much to my surprise the file was not just converted from <trk> to <rte>

That's exactly what happened.

but also optimised to take a shorter distance and on available roads, presumably by applying the navigation algorithms such as are used in Google Maps and GPS units!

Just the display of the route changed from routing on streets based on Google Maps Directions to a direct connection of each waypoint. Your data is still the same.

Could there be a Close option on the File menu which would simply close the currently open file (with all the usual warnings about saving or not saving changes)?

Yes. Please try File/New...