EDIT: Gen 1 and 2 are while the upcoming Gen 3 is built by Blackberry.
"Ford cited issues with Microsoft's complex software dragging down its scores with Consumer Reports and other consumer magazines being a reason it switched to BlackBerry."
- They don't make it easy to get someone to show you the system. (pts 1 and 2)
- They make it so that if you just leave your iPod (a lot of people didn't have the phone at the time) plugged in, it has to be prominently visible to thieves (pt 4)
- Despite them expecting you to use Sync for anything and everything, it's on an inner row of the steering wheel, requiring a really long thumb stretch to reach. (pt 6)
- Hitting the phone button when you don't have a phone set up with it, will disable the audio system (and thus, further Sync action) until next time you turn the car on. (pt 8)
[1] http://blog.tyrannyofthemouse.com/2008/07/setting-sync-strai...
I am currently driving a C-Max and some of your points aren't relevant:
- The dealer rep went to lengths to train me on the sync system even though I insisted I didn't need it. (Maybe it's different elsewhere)
- The USB connection is inside the cubby between the seats, so you don't need to leave mp3 players in visible locations.
- The sync activation is on the steering wheel, near the volume buttons, and is not at all difficult to tap.
All in all, Sync has a weird tiered command system which is why I don't use it much, but it's not for lack of physical design.