Searches are slow - if they can't be faster can we let them continue in the background?

Obviously the real solution to this problem is make searches fast.

However, right now I barely use search because once I've kicked off the search I want to get on with other stuff.

If the search didn't occupy the main timeline panel, I could continue conversations in a room whilst also searching in that room.

If the search could continue in the background, I could navigate to a different room and talk there whilst searching in a room.