> I suggest as a usability improvement to add a user option to
> enable/disable display of ls-switches on modeline

Sounds good to me.

E.g. A user option whose value is a format string
that accepts the value of `dired-actual-switches'
and returns the text to use in the mode-line.
Trivial to do.

You might want to file an enhancement request for
this (`M-x report-emacs-bug').
___

If the request doesn't get accepted for some reason
then perhaps I'll do it for Dired+.el.

I already add additional info to the mode-line (on
a hook, so you can remove it):

--

 Show number of marked, flagged, and current-list lines in mode-line.
 (Flagged means flagged for deletion.)
 If the current line is marked/flagged and there are others
 marked/flagged after it then show `N/M', where `N' is the number
 marked/flagged through the current line and `M' is the total number
 marked/flagged.

 If the current line is for a file then show `L/T', where `L' is the
 line number in the current listing and `T' is the number of files in
 that listing.  If option `diredp-count-.-and-..-flag' is non-nil then
 count also `.' and `..'.

 Also abbreviate `mode-name', using "Dired/" instead of "Dired by".

--