blender 2.9x has this nice new extrude dissolve and intersect tool but it seemingly only can be used in active tool mode? i really dislike to use tools like that. it’s slow, i have to use a manipulator, i can’t directly enter numbers,…
i prefer the old blender way of just pressing a key and using a tool immediately. can i somehow set up the new extrude mode to work like that? i have tried but didn’t find a way.
You can. You have to manually add a shortcut panel in Preferences Window.
Expand keymap at 3DView > Mesh > Mesh (global).
Press +Add New button.
Then, you type mesh.extrude_region_dissolve_move_intersect as identifier.
Then, configure tool to use a Normal Orientation constrained on Z axis.
Then, choose your shortcut.
Eventually Save Preferences.
It should work as wanted.
cool! thanks! 
now i just have to figure out a good strategy to find unused hotkeys.