wish list for the google maps api

I'm pretty happy with the api but here are some things i'd love to see.

1. Fix the date line bug or make an easier way to work around it (e.g. the alternate map that i suggested earlier)
http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API/browse_thread/thread/754bcecb7965fcf3/e801a0c20af95136?q=endico&rnum=7#e801a0c20af95136

2. the hybrid map should show cities worldwide, even if it doesn't have street maps for those places. microsoft's hybrid map on vearth is a lot more useful in this respect (the map itself, not the api).  Zooming in on this VE map of last october's quakes in pakistan shows nearby cities even when zooming in quite far. The map gives enough context that its obvious that you're looking at Pakistan. A similar google map just looks like random mountains.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~endico/maps/pakistan-20051008.html

3. It would be really swell if it were possible to run google maps locally without httpd running so people could use google map widgets in Dashboard on MacOSX, Konfabulator, etc.

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http://walkingonairvideo.blogspot.com/
http://www.speakeasy.org/~endico/maps/usgs.html