ive gone ahead and designed a combined usb/serial version that potentially can be used as either serial, usb, or both (with jumpers changing whether its serial or usb), which improves on all the points i listed above (except not worrying about point 4).
only thing is if u want to have both usb and serial, to switch between them ud have to open the box (unless u drill a hole and maybe get those easy to change jumpers that have the extra plastic on it to make it longer so its easy to grab to remove, if anyone knows what i mean)
the usb chip is a smd one (surface mount) so i might have to solder it to the board for usb versions as i cant imagine it being too easy for most people to do with normal soldering iron.