So, what you are saying is this:
Instead of writing ~3 new updates I should spend the same amount of time and effort into more details for the manual, which is something everyone with understanding of raws can do, and should do for the wiki. There is a wiki, there are ~10000 players. Why are people not taking the info out of the raws and adding it? Lets say I work another 100 hours on the manual. If 1% of the 10000 players work 1 hour each on the wiki, it would have the same effect.
I understand that people want more info, what I dont understand is why they take if for granted that someone else has to provide it.
With Roses and Maklaks scripts I can automate at least some part of the process though, so some things I can and will do. Interactive lists have to wait till somebody shows me how to do those, because I certainly cant.
Why don't you dig through the raws and make an article on the wiki for embark creatures which will include such basic info?
Animals at embark are an essential part of starting a fortress. Personally I think if it's not documented what any of the animals do and if the ones that are documented (vanilla) aren't even in the mod, it's difficult to start a new fortress at all.
I feel like you shouldn't have to go through the raws just to even play the mod. Still love the mod Meph, but it's like changing or taking out a feature that people rely on to play the game and not explaining anything. Extra things that aren't really essential should be looked up and added to the wiki, I agree. Even just a few lines or a simple description of each creature, not even necessarily extremely detailed info would be very helpful.
I've already taken up the job of writing pages on the Masterwork Wiki for the creatures, and I'm gonna start with the domestic creatures because of the exact points you just made. The challenge is I don't know anything at all about writing pages on a Wiki, or even how to correctly decipher a creatures entire RAW. It's gonna take some time to learn, but I can tell you what I already know.
Frilly Lizards and Mouseweasels are the replacement for cats in MWDF, the difference is Lizards also lay eggs.
Mastiffs are a breed of dog, as are Shaggy Badgerdogs. Mastiffs are more expensive at embark, but are definitely worth it. They'll take on all lower difficulty hostiles with ease, some zombies included. They can even take on Kobolds and Goblins 1v1 if you wartrain them.
Boozebelly Goats are an excellent choice as well, as they're milked for an alcoholic drink that can still be made into cheese. Replenishable food and drink from one animal.
Anything with 'Wooly' in their name can be sheard. Cragboars as well, though they give tusks when sheared instead of hair. I have not found a use for them yet, as I don't take them on embark. As far as guard animals go they're slower than Mastiffs, but nothing to be overlooked in comparison either.
Just be patient, not a lot of people want to step up and help out with things like this, and Meph has enough on his plate as it is. Pressuring him to work faster isn't going to help.