Is there an option to perform a filename wildcard search without entering asterisks? I want to enter foo and find foobar.txt, myfoo.txt, and myfoobar.txt.

That's how Windows Explorer works and after many years have gotten used to it. Other search applications either behave like this or has an option to behave like this. Also it's less typing and when I forget the asterisk I may not realize until after the search has been running for a long time.

That's why I think it should be an option. Take a look at Ultra File Search. It has a simple quick way to change the setting.