Double tap your axis key and it will lock to your normal/local axis. If find other programs quite unintuitive after being used to blender's way of translating. I just hate click dragging manipulator arrows.
Not sure if someone saw my post at page 6... scrolling down a bit this following page you can find a Max-Maya similar style interface for Blender: http://www.pepeland.com/ Hope it helps, sorry if you saw it already.
I thought MMB should be in transform modal map but it isn't. I'd even mess with python if i knew it is possible but I can't find it in API refernce either. I'm new to blender and I feel that I'm missing something.
@BTolputt, I'm sure the situation will improve, but it might take a while :P It's licensed under creative commons. Find a torrent or download somewhere on the web and then make a donation directly to the Blender Foundation. It's all perfectly legal and encouraged. :) http://www.venomslab.com/
@hobodactyl Have you considered joining the #blender and #blendercoders channel on irc.freenode.net? Thats the best place to get answers and the developers will actively work to help find a solution if none exists. Also a good place to jump into helping with the development of Blender.
Activate the add-on "add curve Extra objects" In object mode you will find a spline generator menu in the N panel create tab. The spirofit or bounce spline function will help you to create spline around an object with many parameters.
Went ahead and mirrored it, that was pretty simple. I still tried to download that addon though. Downloaded the zip to a folder, but couldn't find it in the install addon screen in Blender for some reason. But I guess that's a question for another day. Thank you.
https://developer.blender.org/D6322 This makes me very, very happy. Easily one of my top 2 frusrations with Blender atm for modeling. I still have no idea how to get this into my Blender but I will find out how.
I'm working on recreating Blenders transform system in 3DSMax: Almost done creating the basic move/grab part for objects, including snapping. Still a ways from release, but I thought a few people in here might find it interesting. :)
Anyone know what's happening with SSAO in the viewport? I got an old build with it and it's surprisingly useful for some stuff but can't find any more info. edit: oh never mind, I just worked out it's in the gooseberry branch