This is what I would like– Apple, Microsoft, Zeus– whoever is listening:

Scenario: You are connected to your external hard drive. (Your computer, not you personally.) You need to leave RIGHT NOW but the drive is busy. You try to eject it, you get an error message saying something along the lines of “This drive is busy. Close applications and try again.” So you wrack your brains, wondering what file on the external you were using with what application. You guess wrong. You try again and again but no dice, you just can’t eject the drive, and then in frustration yank the cord out of the machine and leave, bellowing in rage and now late.

Powers That Be: Why don’t you PROMPT ME to quit applications that are using files on the external so I don’t have to TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT. You could say: “iTunes is using files on [your external.] Would you like to: Save and close; Force quit iTunes without save; Cancel.” So easy and graceful.