Shuffle functionality not considered in iTunes Upgrade

Question

Upon agreeing to let iTunes update the new 8.1.1.10 version, I found a disappointing change. Almost nothing about iTunes changed, my libraries were intact, my playlists were still there and populated, and my settings and preferences were unchanged.
I use a 2nd Generation shuffle and mostly listen to podcasts. I'm probably in the minority, because this has happened before. A previous iTunes upgrade took away the ability to load the iPod with podcasts in my chosen order and then have them play in that order. For some reason, they would always automatically revert to reverse chronological order or Release Date once the iPod was undocked. I couldn't change it. It was annoying, but I learned to live with it.
Now, with the latest upgrade, I cannot right click on podcasts on the iPod when it is docked, and see where they are located in the playlists (in fact, the right click menu on iPod podcasts is not the same as the right click menu on playlist podcasts anymore, and it used to be). I cannot copy podcasts from the docked iPod to another playlist. Play count does not transfer from the computer to the iPod, and I cannot click to play podcasts on the iPod (so that I can continue a half complete podcast while recharging my iPod using the PC's speakers).
I believe that there is no fix for these problems. I suspect that Apple has decided that shuffle users are not their most profitable customer base. It's true, once I buy the shuffle, I get everything for free. I use their most inexpensive product as an audio public (free) library. I suspect that Apple feels that the lowest tier customers like myself are not worth supporting.
Certainly, it's probably more fun to create apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. I am disappointed to be relagated to the rubbish bin of the customer base, even though I've been an ardent supporter of the technology. I would request that future iTunes updates at least do not erode functions of the shuffle when used with podcasts.
If I'm wrong that there is no fix, please tell me how to restore these functions to my docked shuffle.
Thank you, and you still have an awesome product even with my complaints.

Answer 1

Does "Copy to Play Order" not work? If you right-click or control-click on a playlist, the Copy to Play Order menu choice appears. I haven't tried it yet, but I've seen others post about it.