Why Doesn't iMovie '08 allow QuickTime/.mov to be imported

I've been reading about others who have been unable to import .mov files into iMovie '08. Very frustrating indeed.
With all due respect, the solutions/answers that are being posted are extremely "techy" for the layman. Come On! This isn't Final Cut Pro. Furthermore, the bottom line answer is - you can't import .mov files. Earlier versions of iMovie were much more user friendly and allowed you to accomplish this task. I know that I had no problems dragging a .mov file to the clip window in earlier versions of iMovie. Why is this now such a problem? This is a major oversight in Apple's development of iMovie that needs to be resolved.
I believe that it's truly unacceptable to require loyal Apple users to revert back to earlier versions of iMovie to accomplish this task.
I demand that Apple get on this and fix it!

With all due respect, the solutions/answers that are being posted are extremely "techy" for the layman.
It is no more "techy" to expect a layman to know what kind of data is stored in a file container (MOV) than it is to expect a consumer to know what kind of media (tape, HDD, DVD, memory card, etc.) is used to store his files on a camcorder. In short, if this too much trouble or beyond the capability of the potential camcorder purchaser, then it is likely the individual should not be shopping for a camcorder in the first place. In a similar manner, if you do not understand what kinds of files your editor can edit, you should probably not be using that editor.
Furthermore, the bottom line answer is - you can't import .mov files.
Since August of 2007 millions of MOV clips have been imported by hundreds of thousands of users.
Earlier versions of iMovie were much more user friendly and allowed you to accomplish this task. I know that I had no problems dragging a .mov file to the clip window in earlier versions of iMovie. Why is this now such a problem?
This is the crux of your problem. All previous versions of iMovie performed or attempted to perform an automatic conversion of non-edit compatible, fully supported QT compression formats to edit compatible compression formats as part of the import process. iMovie '08 does not do this. iMovie '08 can edit DV, AIC, Motion-JPEG, Photo-JPEG, as well as, supported profiles of MPEG-4 or H.264 content. The application assumes that if you import a DV file that you want to edit the file natively in DV. So it does not arbitrarily convert the file to one of the other compression formats behind your back as iMovie HD might do. If this auto conversion process is what you value most in your editor or you don't know and don't care what types of files can be edited, then download and use your free copy of iMovie HD v6.0.4 which is readily available to all iLife '08 owners. iMovie '08 is simply "not for everyone" and even the people who use it will admit that it is not the best tool for all projects.
This is a major oversight in Apple's development of iMovie that needs to be resolved... I believe that it's truly unacceptable to require loyal Apple users to revert back to earlier versions of iMovie to accomplish this task... I demand that Apple get on this and fix it!
You consider this an "oversight." That's your opinion. I disagree and firmly believe the application does what they wanted it to do. But this is beside the point. There is no "reverting back to earlier versions of iMovie" since the iMovie '08 application is not an update or upgrade of any previous "version" but rather a totally new editing concept with all new code and a totally different look that "just happens to share the iMovie name." This is also not the forum to use to "demand" changes to an Apple product. Use the application's built-in "Provide iMovie Feedback" menu option to access the official form in which you may express your dissatisfaction, submit an enhancement request, or make a "bug report."
I personally prefer the ability to edit multiple forms of content within a single project but if you don't, you could always request a compromise of sorts. To wit, you could simply request that an additional import module be added which allows users be given the option to designate a specific project format (e.g., DV, AIC, M-JPEG, Photo-JPEG, MPEG-4, or H.264) and have any content not already in that compression format be automatically converted to that format in much the same manner as the current version of iMovie HD does. However, this does seem to defeat the purpose of being able to do "native" edits in multiple formats within a single project and I suspect you will likely then complain about the time it takes to convert to some of the format choices or object to the default settings employed for QT file level conversion.

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