Looking for some of that to change in 2006....especially open jaw and *A. Remember, just get dates close to what you want and bargain (waitlist) for your dates. Considering the current currency value for saver awards vs fares, I still think they're a good value, especially internationally. The tradeoff is a bit more work to ferret them out.
In the interim, you can always call the awards desk, pay the fee and get a human to book for you. Considering the possible benefit, I think it's a small price to pay.

Pat