Hi!
While setting up News theme I found that setup through widgets may be frustrating.
For example: all my setup is gone when I disable the theme. This happens quite often when testing new stuff (if it works under 2013 theme).
Also, widgets area is used in everyday life for temporary stuff: banners, event boxes etc.
This stuff changes frequently. If a random GK New Show Pro widget is gone (eg somebody removed banner and News Show Pro by accident), then my layout is destoryed. I have to locate what is gone and how to restore it. This is quite a lot to do.
Up to now I found this: Widget Importer & Exporter by Steven Gliebe. It works. It should be delivered together with your themes imho.
Nice to have woud be a possibility to 'LOCK' widget - so it would not dissapear util you force unlock.
Greets !
Bartek