Nice rant Hammond. I'm with you. I always bust a picking nail or otherwise put myself in a bad mood when I change the batteries in my guitars.

Since I generally sit on my fat ass when I play I get along okay with an external mic, but I still have plug-in-ables. They always piss me off for about the same reasons as everyone else is saying. I'm always happier if when I have to plug in I can operate things like volume and effects with my feet. Passive guitar, active floor. I've given up plugging in at our local festival simply because it seems to be easier to make do with whatever mic they'll give me, given the exceedingly short time between acts, and the number of instruments I carry (usually at least 3) requiring vastly different EQ.

Phantom powered equipment would be good if it was universal...

Peace, Mooh.