Consider this me being a sqeaky wheel then. In software, it's sometimes difficult to prioritize feature requests. So this is me just being another user voicing my request in order to "up" the priority.

as far as the more complex rules, I agree. There are times when someone gets their last SC taken but can retreat to another SC and stay in the game. However, it's logically deterministic (and therefore programmable) when there isn't a retreat to go to, then there is no hope for that power to survive the unit placement. If there is a retreat, even if it's a non-SC, then the move should still be allowed due to the possibility that 2 retreats to the same territory will destroy both units. but again, it's deterministic.

and after the retreat phase, if the power isn't sitting on an SC and he's got 0 SCs, there's no reason to make him log in just to manually say "Destroy my last unit(s) at ___ "

I agree with philcore (for once!)

This is the development forum

http://forum.phpdiplomacy.net/

Beyond that, any unit that can't retreat (must be destroyed) should automatically be destroyed even if the player is still in the game. That way you don't have to wait for the disgruntled player onthe retreat phase to issue a stupid destroy order that they have no choice in anyways. If it has no retreats, the destroy ourder is automatic. If the player has no other options, the destroy order(s) is/are automatically finalized with no unfinalize available.

Yes, that is true.
The most complex situations are when a player has 0 SCs. Then retreats can be ignored and auto-destroyed if:
-> None of their units can retreat onto an SC
-> The unit in question can retreat to the same place as a retreating unit from another nation (this could cause a bounce and thus force the other player to disband)

well your second situation is still an allowable event. I would exclude that from the autodestroy. That would end up giving an advantage to the player who could now retreat to that spot, that the rules of the game don't allow for.

I'd only be in favor of automating things that don't affect the rules of the game.

If they have a place to retreat to, even if it might bounce on another retreat (there's no guarantee as the other player may choose to destroy so as to get a build in a better location), then they have to have that option to try. The only time automatic orders should happen is if that is the only option available (no retreats, destroy the unit.)

I agree. Only orders that are truly determined, should be automated

Logically, it makes sense.

The problem is that you would have countless newbies posting here saying "Hey, what happened to my army?"

DipperDon: Have the GameMaster announce automatic destruction/elimination in Global Chat.