One step away from predesigned usage pattern and you are in conflict with NM. This is terribly wrong when system level tool force you to fight to solve some rather mundane tasks. It is wrong when it is easier to edit manually supplicant config files to configure WiFi properly, then extend NM a little.

Regular Expressions and shells are your first best friends. It is amazing how lowly people keep thinking about shells and RE utility. Unix toolbox contain quite a collection of instruments, that can be combined to accomplish a lot of everyday tasks with very high level of automation and reuse. The best thing is: this approach has very linear learning curve. You can not be sure that it will save you a lot of time, while you are still learning. But it sure will both make the work more intelligent and reduce number of stupid mistakes.