There is an example script in the max docs that hooks to the object creation callback. Its a little work but you could write a callback function to do what ever you want from that.
3DS Clean has one such script...forgot which one, but I remember installing it and it worked like charm (except when creating rigs, even those were grey with black wireframes). EDIT: Found it: Automatrix http://www.polycount.com/forum/showpost.php?p=969473&postcount=114
Is there a way to have a default grey material already assigned to an object when it is created? i saw an old thread about this a while back but cant find it. in addition, itd be kinda cool to have black wireframe, default material, bounding boxes off, and wireframe showing, when the object is created. if anyone used this…