Regarding sound -- I'm betting the only way we're going to see complete support like that is by linking with a library like FMOD, BASS or Audiere, otherwise the sound support we see in Max right now would have been a lot more robust.
FWIW Audiere, while less capable than bass or fmod, is free. http://audiere.sourceforge.net/
FWIW Audiere, while less capable than bass or fmod, is free. http://audiere.sourceforge.net/