While I'm voicing my dislikes today... I'd also like to offer a solution to our cutscenes dilemma.

I don't know if this possible, but I often wonder why the playing of the cutscenes isn't macro'd to the bonus tomes?
Bonus tomes= new player =play cutscenes
Seems rather simple to me.
Maybe more people would come back to playing the main scenario if there was at least a chance it could be a fast run.