A partial solution to the 3D view limitations is to center the camera onto a mass center of selected objects. It is quite easy to implement. For those who are interested I give a link to a movie where such mechanism is implemented, have a look around 2:30 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I98AJZO7fJ0

The Wuteh 3d Studio tool from the movies is based on a modification license of SH3D.