I ran into similar problem some while ago and I used tags as a temporary solution. YMMV.
Little idea: category initially closed
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After you create a category, it is closed.
What for?
-To the administrator can configure it to your needs and then open it.It seems to me that it would be more convenient.
What do you think? -
An admin can create a category, change its permissions to admin only, customise it, then open it to general users - I've done that before, if that's what you mean?
It's not the default method, but it'd only take a few mouse clicks more.