Or at least exclude them from the playlist. I've been waiting for that feature too, it would be very convenient! There's not much I can gripe about the iPod, though.
True, I forgot about the crossfades! That would be a fairly simple preference to add in settings, I would think. As for iTunes to CDs, well... that's a whole 'nother story! I rarely use crossfades anyway, they often cut into song endings that don't fade out... or add a ton of silence to songs that slowly fade out on their own. I have yet to find the "sweet spot" in the crossfade seconds.