1. What exactly is the difference between the auto-save-list directory that is always generated by default in .emacs.d and the the auto-save directory that we typically want to change by using the auto-save-file-name-transforms function? the latter, by default uses the temporary-file-directory, which is typically the local machine's /tmp/ folder. both are for auto-save files? but what exactly are the difference though? the auto-save-list directory holds auto-save file of the "STATE" of your emacs? and has the save.hostname files for when the system unexpectedly crashes and you want to RECOVER your emacs to the previous state? and the auto-save-file-name-transforms/temporary-file-directory holds the #BLAH# files of the file you're currently working on and saved at a regular interval?
2. Question regarding where to place (package-refresh-contents)
>(unless (package-installed-p 'use-package)
>
>(package-refresh-contents)
>
>(package-install 'use-package))
currently i have this... but in this, (package-refresh-contents) will basically only ran once EVER - during the initial setup, since that's the only time the system will not have use-package installed. should i perhaps place that line before (unless (package-installed-p 'use-package)? so that it is run everytime when i start up emacs? there's pros and cons to this right? the pro is that, the package cache/info will be up to date everytime and i can just install packages right away through the commands as the package repos will be all up to date already... the cons is that, i doing so, it will dramatically slow down the startup time 'cuz emacs will spend a lot of time updating the package cache right? and this is probably not worth it since we typically want to run package-list-package interactively anyway when we want to look for packages interactively and it will update the cache at that time anyway