There is currently no clean way to have different filtering (from the default set of 'content type', 'topics' and 'site sections') for an automated list.
It has a provision for altering the view information but follows that up with a hard-coded set of argument processing in 'ihb_civictheme_attribute_table__update_view'.
Alter ihb_civictheme_attribute_table__update_view to allow it to extract an 'override' set of view arguments from the
'component_settings'.
Active
1.8
Code
So from my understanding of your issue there is a need to implement an alter hook that allows the overriding / setting of the view filters.
Like:
`hook_civictheme_automated_list_view_arguments_alter` ?
Yes, I'd like to be able to override the settings and an 'alter hook' would be welcome.