1. Static text block - is this raw text/html that always appears in the article output/edit page?

You can do this via wrappers but its not obvious where this is when you come to re-edit the layout.

I think what might help is a "raw html" field that can be added in the layout where you can add text/HTML??

2. 'Particles' - a nice idea. I'll see what I can pull together

3. custom javascript - we could roll this into the static text block field and adding an option to treat the output as javascript

1. Static text block - is this raw text/html that always appears in the article output/edit page?

Yes. I had looked into just creating a custom default.php layout override, but getting the authors educated to remember to go to the Layout in the Article's Options tab and changing it has been difficult. With EasyLayouts, I jumped at the chance to just assign an EL layout to a category or articles so they never had to worry about any of the more advanced Article options. This greatly helps in simplifying content author's roles in just writing content.

For me a "Row" type object with a content or text input field would work. In experimenting I am just using a Row and using the two Wrapper (top/bottom) inputs to create something. But a more user friendly approach would be for me to have an input box for the main content with the editor available so add-ons like Sourcerer, Conditional Content and other content plugin button helpers are available as well.

Some background on what I'm trying to imagine...we are trying to build something like your chef/recipes demo for EL, only for JEvents. We are trying to generate more content to help market events, their organizations, the organizers themselves. For example, an Event Organizer who is a "guest" (not trained in J! content creation, etc.) can log in and publish content (multipel articles) related to their event, which we will also reference in the JEvents details layout (we're currently doing this with PHP tags embedded in JEV modules and the Custom Layout). I'm trying to automate the "glue" to tie events and event content of different types together...some articles we promote through syndication to social media channels, some we just hide except for the Event Details page so registrants can read the latest on an event they are attending.

I realize EL has a wider scope, but I came to EL by way of JEvents

EDIT: when does EasyLayouts process content plugins (or does it)? I just realized my <?php ?> tags aren't reading the plugin generated shortcuts that sourcerer generates by default.

Just to clarify - the input field we are talking about would be created in the layout and NOT editable by the article creator?

EasyLayouts calls the Joomla content plugins the same way as Joomla does on an article. It doesn't, currently, call content plugins on the layout itself - I think that is what you are asking about??

Correct, something I create and, based on EL.conditions, category, etc. appear when the article or blog shows up. Right now I am inserting a row, raw html, and using the raw html input box to place the html code or javascript, or embeded php, etc. I have to stretch that box as wide as it will go to edit within. Now I just write my code, test it externally, then go paste it...but if I had a similar row type that used my default codemirror or jce editor, it would make it easier.

I will ask RegularLabs if I move their sourcerer plugin if it will help. The metatags are working when the content is rendered, but certain variables that were provided as shortcuts like $mainframe, $article, and $document, etc. are null. I have just gone back to the plain ol’ Joomla constructors to derive the objects I need access to.

In this