Easy Workflow

Create new Content -> review ->
[Optional] Save content in order to create the node ->
while editing/adding the new - browse for a .zip file with image files -> upload the zip -> server unpacks the zip and associates it with the node -> Server creates many versions of the image - like the Image module -> show, per image, in a list, a special ID, identifier - preferably global (not just for this specific node, but usable in other nodes) -> where ever you can enter text - be able to use special Tags like [Image:221 640x480 Thumb/Full/...] - and Thats it!

So that you know, I have this already planned, and somewhat implemented. I haven't tested fully the unzipping of zip files, although I have written something to do that. I hadn't thought about it as part of attaching files to nodes, but adding the zip functionality would definitely be handy. As it stands, it is possible to upload almost any file (image, video, audio), and have it attach to a node (multiple-attach) would be good. Also, the module provides for being able to insert these attached nodes into the node, to be displayed, how, and in what fashion the images is to be displayed.

I'm currently also planning to add a "layout" ability, so that a specific style of "layout" can be applied (for instance, when having captions underneath photos), and including hopefully the possibility to have JS image viewers, or even something like simpleviewer involved.

There is a tag system being developed, which hopefully will make it simple for people to enter (but also, there will be a JS popup which will provide a "simple" web way of doing this also).

Every media file which is uploaded into the system has a unique ID (mid), which it will be possible to access anywhere within the drupal system (I may have to think more about the access settings for this however). Currently, I have been able to embed media, such as a video, within a custom block, but hopefully will be able to add different other various additions to a media_block module (possibly providing random media, etc).

Ok, so I have some big changes on the way, although I'm still trying to decide on the best route to take for creating/reading zips, gz, tar, files in such a way as to be able to allow multiple-use. I had considered using the old PHP functions for zip files, but then I run into the idea of super-large files (a possibility given movies, etc). Also these functions don't work to "create" the zip files, which would be very handy for those providing downloading capabilities for media files.

If you have other features, which get used by other modules, that you think would be great to have either implemented, or integrated, please let me know (in a different issue).

Ok, so I'm working on the process of a few modules which I'd like to add. I'd welcome all the help I can get. I had to write some decompression code for the SWF, which uses the DEFLATE method, so I might be able to provide this in the future, but I'll need some time.
With this being the case, I'm working to get a stable version of the module out the door, so that people can at least use this on production sites. Anything that would help I'll definitely be working on getting in as soon as possible.

New version of the module up, which unfortunately still does not have easy decompress option, but that will be coming in future versions.