Work vehicle magnetorheological fluid joystick systems operable in modified centering modes

A work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system for usage onboard a work vehicle equipped with an implement, the work vehicle MRF joystick system comprising:

• a joystick device, comprising:
• a base housing;
• a joystick mounted to the base housing and movable relative thereto through a centered position;
• and
• a joystick bias mechanism coupled to the joystick and exerting a centering force urging the joystick to return to the centered position when the joystick is moved therefrom;
• an MRF joystick resistance mechanism controllable to vary an MRF resistance force resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing in at least one degree of freedom;
• and
• a controller architecture coupled to the MRF joystick resistance mechanism, the controller architecture operable in a modified centering mode in which the controller architecture:
• determines when the joystick begins return toward the centered position due to the centering force applied to the joystick by the joystick bias mechanism;
• and
• in response to determining that the joystick begins return toward the centered position due to the centering force, commands the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to modify a rate at which the joystick returns to the centered position by varying the MRF resistance force applied to the joystick;
• and enters the modified centering mode in conjunction with activation of a first implement auto-positioning function, which causes automatic movement of the implement into a first preset position.