Well, for #1 above, you can hit F11 (default) to switch to the desktop, start dragging a file, then hit F11 again and drop it where you want it. Not as easy as your example above, but it works.
If you really want Apple to know about this stuff, go to
http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback/. Even if Apple employees happen to read the board, they can't act upon anything here. It has to go through "official" channels.