Index: src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/download/DownloadDialog.java
===================================================================
--- src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/download/DownloadDialog.java	(revision 295)
+++ src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/download/DownloadDialog.java	(revision 296)
@@ -105,5 +105,5 @@
 		}
 
-		newLayer = new JCheckBox(tr("Download as new layer"), Main.pref.getBoolean("download.newlayer", true));
+		newLayer = new JCheckBox(tr("Download as new layer"), Main.pref.getBoolean("download.newlayer", false));
 		add(newLayer, GBC.eol().insets(0,5,0,0));