how to change "open directory" default path?

This question https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/206370219-how-to-change-open-directory-default-path-?input_string=how%20to%20change%20%22open%20directory%22%20default%20path%3F was asked in 2012 and the answer was that there is no such setting.

On linux, using newest version of pycharm, we have literally thousands of folders (users) that open up as pycharm tries to refresh the tree. Hangs for 2-5 minutes every time for i get that dialog (either for "open" or "select interpreter" or anything that has a popup that goes to the system)

Is that still the case now >5 years later that no such setting exists?