When creating a gift record in batch or individually creating the record, the package should automatically update based on the information recorded on the Appeals tab. This would save a lot of time going back to the constituent record to check the Appeals tab when creating a gift record.
See also KB BB736837.
This to me would indicate improper use of packages as designed. I am hopefully presenting on Appeal/Package codes at BBCON this fall. Hopefully it will help.
I'm not really sure how this would be an improper use of packages - we use packages in our reporting so it would be a helpful feature. Can you please explain a bit further what you mean by this? I'm in Australia so I will not be attending BBCON this fall.