Yes, I agree with you
GreatLakesVacuum.
As I have said earlier (
http://forum.x-cart.com/showpost.php?p=378443&postcount=11), we do want to add a support of routine that shipping calculator will calculate the final size of the package itself (of course, if shipping calculator supports it). But we are not going to add X-Cart 4 routine, because its packing algorithm is wrong and it cannot be easily solved. Moreover, it is shipping calculator's job to calculate best package size.
That is why our position is:
1) Give easy algorithm of packing goods. The current version can be improved, but not dramatically. We can add a support of product classes, so pen/marker problem will be solved.
2) Give a way to use a complex algorithm of packing goods provided by shipping calculator.
If you want to see either option faster, please register such idea and upvote it in our ideas tracker (ideas.x-cart.com).
Tony.