IMO, the extra complexity (packaging, and for end-user experience) of packaging the -arts and -akode output plugins separately is not worth it. I can *maybe* understand -akode, since it adds a dependancy on kdemultimedia, but arts will always be installed, so I don't understand any benefit to packaging it separately (unless you're using that as a way to discourage its use in favor of -gstreamer). No biggie, but at least consider it.
I agree, it's a total pain, and confusing to boot.
Yeah, I guess it just makes it harder for the end user. I was following the guidelines at http://amarok.kde.org/wiki/index.php/Packaging_amaroK In the next version, I'll keep only -akode (and -xine of course).
You probably ought to keep -visualization as well. I can see some folks not wanting xmms (and gtk+) to get pulled in.
Yes, that's what I actually did in CVS. -arts was the only deleted supackage in then end.