Currently Jira allows to import/export meta-data (users, groups, permissions etc.) and actual data (issues) all together.

It would be very helpful to provide more flexibility by allowing to import/export on smaller granularity level - users, groups, permissions etc.

Example:

I'd like to start and try customizing Jira on an instance separate from the one we use for evaluation purposes (do custom fields, permissions, groups etc.).

Say, I am done with customizing and would like to apply all 'metadata' changes to another instance, but only the settings, not the data itself.