This is a discussion thread for the "Brief Bits: iTunes Version 10.6.1 Released" story posted on the front page.
Is it still slow and lacking the ability to monitor folders outside the "Automatically adding to iTunes" folder and incompatible with previous/next song keyboard keys unless it's the active window?
I don't know about the rest of your post, but I'm on the version just before this new 10.6, and keyboard keys work for me no matter the active window (I also have the iTunes Windows toolbar on, so this may be part of it). Maybe it's your hardware?