Stop, stop, stop… and what can you say about this https://www.allen-heath.com/media/Qu-Mixer-Reference-Guide-AP9372_7b.pdf I read this one…! my problems…? why are they keeps this non-actual manual on official site…?
About GLD: I’m happy for you that you have both (Qu and GLD) but since/after 2012 it’s a standard requirements (as from that time most of customers started to asking A&H, Soundcraft, Yamaha etc. one simple question that drives them mad and this is why from Uli we have all in one and more for just 3000…? 
About Qu: I think that this limitations in Qu series looks like a non-technical but more a marketing tricks with witch whey try to not drop down sales of GLD and that is all about…
it’s not fare… 
the link is now sends us to actual manual… where did I find an old one…? BACK TO TOPIC: With dSNAKE and latest firmware update it’s some kind of solution for this feature (patchable inputs) request…! it’s really was not that hard, right?
…and if you indeed read that manual, you also saw this on page three:
"Firmware is updated regularly as new features are added and improvements made. The firmware version current when this guide was released is noted in the Contents section. The latest firmware can be downloaded from the Allen & Heath website..."I don't get what's important on discussing things which weren't implemented in the past? Is this intended to be a praise for A&H continuously listen to customers and improve their products, which is just hard to read from your lines?
“mp3 is standard on most portable profesional and non pro recorders. I’m not saying it’s good quality but it’s fine for low level bgm music playback.”
Why would you want an mp3 player if it wasn’t good quality? I would rather have no internal mp3 player than a low quality one. The ST3 input is a great feature for mp3 needs. Now if A& could license 3rd party plugins (Waves, SoundToys, Slate, FabFilter, etc.), now THAT is what would excite me!
Based on the rest of your wish list, You probably should have saved more money and went with the GLD series. You mention that Yamaha, berhinger, and other consoles have what you are looking for, why didn’t you purchase one of those? I am guessing it’s because you realize that A&H has the better mixer overall. I think for the price (if you payed retail, you are crazy), the QU series is a good buy. I think over time, the company will continue to make it better with software updates. Half baked updates like a low quality mp3 player, would be very disappointing.
…the mp3 part in this thread is from early 2015, not sure if the OP is still listening…
I hate when that happens
yup, bumping discussions from the past seem to be a new trend…
Probably because there isn’t a whole lot going on here. I don’t mean that a cut to the site, but on other sites there is a lot more happening on a daily basis. I guess I need to start paying more attention to the post dates.