You think that's funny. But I've actually been thinking of ways to access more features from the front panel and I had a couple of ideas...

1) Double-clicks. Can this be detected from the kernel? Can anyone think of a way this could be implemented gracefully?

2) Chords. Can the front panel's button grid be read from the kernel in such a way that combinations of simultaneous presses can be detected?

Examples of chords:
Hold down knob while turning=jog/shuttle mode or rotary radio tuning.
Press bottom and top button at the same time: Switch source.
Hold bottom button then press FF/REW: next/previous playlist

That sort of thing...