I don't know if anyone noticed, but on Live, if you have empty inventory slots, items you buy or loot go into those slots first, and then if those are full, they go into your backpack. Currently, regardless if main inventory slots are empty or not, everything goes into the first backpack.

By the way, as I was using the forum search feature to search for any topics similar to this before posting a new topic (unsubtle hint), I came across an old question of John's I thought I would answer if the question hasn't been answered already (for those of you who might find this interesting):

John Adams wrote: I recompiled, using all the new structs. The items I am summoning are going to the 1-6 slots on my toon.
Of course, there still is one thing not clear.
It started placing my fishbone dirks at slot 2, not slot 1. And when slot 6 is full, no more summoning (even though slot 1 is open). I guess this can wait til later, but in case there is something odd with looting, I thought I would mention it.
Overflow is supposed to go where, on the cursor, or in the Inventory UI window? I can't remember.

There are 7 inventory (bag) slots, from left to right are 0-5. Slot 6 is the Overflow Slot, which is technically a "bag" in itself. I use the term "bag" because it isn't really a bag, but a 10-slot container (unless they changed it since last I played). Once you have all your 0-5 slots/bags full, and the Overflow Slot full, you get an inventory full message, and are not able to loot or buy anything else until your overflow is emptied. If I recall correctly, the original intent for the Overflow slot was for "catching" any items that fall off due to being broken, before they introduced the weapons-or-items-don't-fall-off-the-icon-just-turns-red-and-all-their-stat-bonuses-and-usability-in-the-case-of-weapons-are-nullified concept.

Wee that was fun...this is what happens when you hardly get any sleep, and go shopping on Christmas Eve, and then suck down 10 cups of coffee

The overflow slot is only one slot now, after that it won't let you complete a quest that gives you a item.

ZexisStryfe wrote:The overflow slot is only one slot now, after that it won't let you complete a quest that gives you a item.

While this is true, there are times when the overflow slot will hold more than 1 item. I just came across this last night logging in an old character that I have not used it a long time. After a lot of changes to various items to make them heirloom, the items were taken off your characters inventory and put into your overflow slot, where you had to re-equip them and attune them.

Arremis wrote:I don't know if anyone noticed, but on Live, if you have empty inventory slots, items you buy or loot go into those slots first, and then if those are full, they go into your backpack. Currently, regardless if main inventory slots are empty or not, everything goes into the first backpack.

Yes, we know this and have not gotten around to sorting out where things magically go, depending on the situation. Overflow, at least for us for now, will probably be huge til we decide to lower it for release. I don't see any reason to restrict it during development.