Nigel,
I totally understand your position on the import side of things. Basically leaves you blind of anything else, and so far a duplicate nightmare when I upgraded to LR4
I have been struggling with it even now since LR3.
In fact I am in the position to leave LightRoom for Photoshop ACR (Only reason I looked elsewhere was when launching many files(30-50) it would only load max about 24). I do wish the interface of ACR would be flexible, and tools more flexible. But having it try and do the task of a Photo Manager hurts it. Sure plenty think how great it is. Not my experience, as you.
So ACR and a photo manager like IDImager (for now I use ACDSee) is really great. ACR is super fast and has no issues trying to manage ANYTHING but what you loaded. So with a good manager, it is a FAST coimbo!
In my experience, it is FAR better to let a race car drive on the speed way and a 4x4 deal with the desert sands or mud, than trying to have one tool do both.
This marketing approach of1 tool do all bothers me.
The Photo managers like ACDSee and ID can do all the export functions as LR. All the ratings, MetaData, MANAGING.
So far, Only thing(I'm sure there are more) I am not seeing in ACR is the White Balance function within a SPOT adjustment ?
This is always an issue, and the 3rd top complaint for PS/LR . LR right now is a bit sluggish, to to point of simply sluggish. If it adds support for other files the resources it needs to deal with will grow and making it even more sluggish. Without the support it sucks as a Manager.
Everyday I work, I as many others have to deal with this. For the weekend warriors, or the Fine Art only gallery folks, not such a big deal.