Can you spell out exactly what you'd like to see in a UI? Exactly where and how the Director UI is better than the Flash UI (which I agree is bloody awful)? You see, with FMX the MM developers have provided the means to bootstrap the development environment you want -- it's possible to write a Flash visual IDE in ActionScript that stands on its own two pins independently of Macromedia's product, needing only the free Flash 6 player as platform. Flash development needn't be a nightmare but it'll require rolling up yr sleeves and rolling yr own. Good job for the unemployed Flash artistes out there ...

Yes, please be more specific. I'm an ex-director developer now working in Flash and find Flash much quicker & easier to work in.

I agree. I've used Director since version 3, and every time I have to sit down and accomplish something with Flash I get totally confused but somehow eventually manage, in spite of the program. Whenever I'm working in Flash I feel like I'm wading through sludge, because the interface is constantly working against me. I've started the tutorial countless times but always get fed up before I can get too far in it. And God forbid if I have to tweak someone else's work. If it's a mildly complex, multi-scene animation, I can count on at least an hour to make a tiny change.

Yes, I completely agree.
I was at Macromedia when they aquired Future Splash. I thought the UI was crap then and I think its crap now. I know I complained to the PM (who ignored me, BTW) about the interface to no avail.
I started off designing in Photoshop, FreeHand and moved to Fireworks without a problem. I still use Director for animated thingies, but I get suicidal when I have to work in Flash. I know how to work in vectors and timeline interfaces and this never seemed to be a good way to approach an animation interface.
It will probably never make sense to me.

This is really interesting to me as I quit using Director after version 6 partly because I found the UI of Flash 3 (!) better ;-D

I was a die-hard Director programmer, using xtras for databases and mainly making corporate CD-ROMs. Flash was just so easy to use and I didn't have to mess with plugins as just about everyone had it. With Flash 4, I could even do applications. Haven't used Director ever since (though I miss its speed for moving bitmaps when doing games). Flash has since my switch (v.3) become much, much better UI-wise while Director (as far as I can tell) has lagged behind.

I find it very interesting that someone can have the totally opposite view ;D

I've used Driector for a couple of years doing both beginner and eventually advanced multimedia courses at my university. I've recently started looking at Flash MX and have to say that the Director to Flash transition is proving more difficult then expected. I much prefered working with Director and find Flash UI can be improved. I find it rather difficult to accomplish simple tasks that took minutes in Director . Perhaps knowing lots about Director is making the move to Flash more difficult.

i think timeline managemnt (changing elements) is perhaps the best example of Flash UI being inferior to Director

How gratifying to find that I am not an isolated case of disenchantment with MM Flash... It's not an application I use all the time, therefore I find I must relearn it everytime I have a task to do in it... It finally frustrated me to the point that I went searching for an alternative and FOUND ONE!! Attention all...
http://www.swishzone.com/index.php?area=downloads&product=v2
It's called 'Swish' and it's wonderful! Costs 49.95 for a license, and a free 15 day trial will convince you it's 10 times the program that Flash is.
Aloha!