Yes, I’ve thought about this. Its not just a matter of highlighting what you want to search for, there are multiple editors to think about. For example, if you have an object highlighted in 3d view as well as a node highlighted in the node editor, how will blender know which editor you are searching for tools in?
We could put this inside each editor’s header (this works for snapping), but there are a lot of items inside each editor’s header already. Maybe it can be an option inside a menu in each editor, but then its less visible than a button on the topbar. It might work as a single button in each header that expands out into a popover with a search box though.
edit: I suppose if they decide it needs to be in a global spot like the topbar, then this search tool concept would be the best way to do it.