Pcbnew has an option to show/hide hidden texts in footprints while editing layout (Visibilities > Render > Hidden Text). I’ve opened a wishlist bug for an option to show/hide all invisible fields in Eeschema symbols while editing schematic. Please feel free to add your vote.
This might be very dangerous due to fact that Eeschema symbols may have up to 16 fields. I can’t imagine when one may have filled more than basic fields. The schematic becomes unreadable.
I don’t mean enabling field “Visibility > Show” property for each symbol in schematic. I’m talking about the same behavior as for the hidden text in Pcbnew: one checkbox to toggle all hidden fields visibility (they should be displayed in gray color like in symbol editor). The idea is similar to “show hidden pins” global option. One could use it to temporary make hidden fields visible. So no danger here
It would also be useful to be able to move invisible fields once they are made visible with that option. Obviously when the option is off no invisible field can be selected in canvas.
As to how many fields one defines and fills - it depends on one’s workflow. E.g. I define only visible fields placeholders in symbol editor and add other necessary fields (as invisible) when I instantiate a symbol in a particular schematic. It’s not uncommon for me to have several invisible fields defined in addition to visible ones. But that’s a discussion for another topic.