This is done by the launcher (USBLoaderGX, or wiiflow ? I don't know how compatible Wiiflow is with neek2o)
At game launch, USBGX run neek with passed arguments : Game's ID to launch and return_to channel's ID. Neek2o catches these arguments at boot to check if you want to either run sysMenu normally, or autoboot a game. it also checks if there is the "return to" TitleID information, and patches the launched game with that information.
When you exit the game, it sees "run NK2O title" instead of "run sysMenu title", loads that channel instead of "exiting to sysMenu" (actually, it doesn't exit, but loads another channel by their TitleID)
Note: USBLoaderGX doesn't let you choose the "return_to" ID. It's forced to "NK2O" on Wii, and to "return to WiiU" channel on vWii. You can, if you want, enable or disable that feature, but not choose a different TitleID. (unless Blackb0x made it editable on his mod).
So, if Wiiflow didn't implement the full neek2o integration yet, you can't autoboot a game or apply the "return to" information.
Ohh, lot of questions here. You are talking about USBloaderGX, right?
- Less kid friendly :
I don't know. I never really used wiiflow to compare. But USBGX has the same "wii menu" feeling, and the menus are easy to access and change. By default most settings are (should be) already properly set up for "usb loading".
If you want additional things like channels or emuNAND, or gamecube, it effectively requires 2 or 3 settings to enable.
- would it be easy to install it just for the disc ripping feature?
Extremly !!!
Insert the disc, select "install" from the popup menu asking you want to do with that disc.
Wait .... Done !
you can eject the disc, insert another one, etc.
- Is there a way I can effectively tell it to not look for games or anything else?
Not sure to understand.
You want the loader to "not look for games" ?
whether it does or not shouldn't bother you. just let it "look for USB games", it will just list them in the main interface, just don't launch any if you don't want to launch them.
- Just load up blank and let me use the disc ripper.
Yep, just do that. launch USBGX, insert disc to rip them, exit USBLoaderGX when finished.
- does the disc ripper rip to WBFS in a way which WiiBackupManager would understand and accept?
It rips to WBFS format. it splits at 4GB (by default, can be changed) to fit any FAT32 partition.
It's of course fully compatible with WiiBackupManager
- Are the filesize splits the same etc?
It can be changed if needed.... The same way WiiBackupManager can change the size if needed too !
Ultimately, all loader's features are almost identical. users mostly choose the one they prefer based on the interface. There are no competition or fight among each developers, we just want users to be happy