multiple "default inline" and 'controlled' placements (if selected)

right now, as far as i can tell, if i attach three images to a story with default inline enabled, all three appear flush left (floating left), and if i use a tag, it appears in the right place in the text, but still is flush left (!)

would it be possible to create an admin option to control this placement with some generic options like:

**for "Default inline" enabled options:**

float all images left
float all images right
place above all text
place below all text
place first image above all text, place all other images below text
(etc)

...and for those instances where author is placing images "inline" with tags, then allow admin to specify defaults for these as well:

alternate floats: first left, second right, third left, fourth right etc
alternate floats, first right, second left, third right, etc...

any thoughts? could this be achieved with more of a hack to the style.css for the theme? is that a more logical approach? i'm using hte new acquia marina...