While the design may take a day or a week, How long it takes to locate and place the schematic symbols, how long it takes to generate a netlist, etc, is associated with the software
Partially true, do you make it on paper first? I, for instance, assign port pins while entering the schematic making quite a few decisions as to what goes on which port. Also, I often decide to scrap a schematic after a while in order to redraw e.g. the uC component to get a more logical/pleasing grouping of the pins. We all have our way of doing things, you may have a complete mental picture of the layout when you start, I do not necessarily have that.

How long it takes to figure out where to put the components on the schematic ... not how long it takes to figure out exactly where the component/connector, or whatever, has to be located.
that is a concurrent operation and can not be separated. Or are you trying to express a PCB layout consideration?

After all, we're supposed to be hashing out how the O/P can get a suitable package outline for his circuit board. I've gone off chasing a rabbit, as we all often do. But I think you're just being evasive because you want to be contrary. I don't think this helps.
Is the fact that I disagree with you that I "want to be contrary", hardly.

What I'd suggest you do is get a copy of the old DOS-Based '386+ OrCAD tool set, available at no cost in many places, and evaluate it for yourself.
naah, with the "user adaptations" I have made with ORCAD for windows, I see none of the hindrances you mention. Now with that said, there are other areas where I am voluntarily "stuck" since moving to a different package would require me to reinvent "user adaptations" for the new package.

For the benefit of many others I think you ought to find a valid link to "the old DOS-Based '386+ OrCAD tool set, available at no cost" since my experience is that often, when acessing such a link without having experience with what you download, you get something faulty or not the final version.

When you've done that, you'll know I'm not comparing dissimilar quantities.
If you can find a post in this thread where I am "comparing" please point it out. Stating "preferences" is not "comparing"

Erik