This doesn’t really answer all the questions I asked :) I get the point, but I don’t think it’s thought trough enough. But CADtools doesn’t really answer these as well — but they allow to just edit dimensions, turning them into labels, yes. They stick, but don’t update (unless a user chooses the 'measurement' type again).

My point on CADtools is that it’s an advanced set of tools and requires some experience to purchase and use, I think... they can allow custom labels. Ai on the other hand, while being a pro platform, aims to have fool-proof general tools that would minimize errors, for inexperienced users included.

I still agree with the idea and I voted for this.

Hello Egor if you edit the text than this text remain as you meant to be. if I force the dimension I guess there is no need to scale it accordingly with a resize.
if you take a look for example at cad tools plugin they allow to add a custom size label.

I'm curious to know how many people are using the tool as it is right now out of the box.
For example I can image someone that need to scale the design without lost the dimension for presentation needs.

Hope this idea sometimes will come to illustrator

A related request:
Allow to select Dimension Text
http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/50488971

OK, get it. Imagine this case then.
What if I have an object and create a dimension snapped to it. Then I change the text manually (let’s imagine it’s allowed to do). Then I resize the object, and the dimensions has to update (because it’s connected to the object). What should happen with the altered text? Should it stay custom? should it update without or with a warning? Should we get a way to reset the value without the need of recreating it? How do you plan one can find 'fake' dimensions in a file that is supplied by someone else (no-one can guarantee consistency then). When I think of all these questions, expanding a dimension into just a group to edit the text seems like a lesser evil than thinking about all the slippery bottlenecks allowing this would bring...

Hello Egor, glad that you understand what I would like to suggest. If I need to place my 2 cents I'll go with a easy way.
If you trace the dimension is fair that the first measure correspond to the real size, so people who drown in scale have the right dimension straight forward. You will only need to make the text editable so the user can select the text tool and press directly on the quotes and edit the dimensions.
Maybe if we add a new mode to the tool some people can be confused from the tool. What do you think?

Point taken :) Just wanted to get a proper explanation as a foundation for this request. I have some experience with apparel, so I totally get it.

Just to get even more: should this mode automatically put the focus into the text after a blank dimension is created (in case this comes as a mode and not as a way to edit text in 'honest' dimensions)?

Hello Egor. I don't think lie is the right word. basically what I suggest is to have an editable text on the tool. In this way when you have the right scale the dimension is already done but in other cases, where object can't be placed in correct dimension we can force the size we want. That's it! For example we use a lot of products photos for our mockup and the photos not always have the right angle so is not possible to scale it. But we now how long the logos of the customer can be so in this case we use the dimension tool to give the right dimensions to the customer. But as I mentioned we need to expand the aspect to put the right values.

I attached an example. This is a t-shirt. Obviously the t-shirt can have different sizes S/M/L etc. and we can't take the dimension of every single model. Also our standard is to place the mockup on a A4 page for presentation.
We already know that the log must be 100mm length ie. It would be great if the tool can let the user edit the dimension. Just it... no lie... only truth :)

So what you need is a 'blank dimension' mode, when you still witness and dimension line, arrowheads, some text — but actually no text given from the beginning so you could enter something else (what exactly, I wonder)? And to have it still attached to the object and having it respond to changing the actual size of it? And you want to have it just to create rough mockups, and to do that you want the honest tool to learn to lie? :)