Things Minecraft Really Needs

This list is written post-Redstone Update due to just various frustrations I have with the core version of Minecraft.I'm aware there are all sorts of mods available, but with mods being invalidated when Minecraft upgrades to the next version, it's really frustrating not to have these things in the core game.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

When I'm building Redstone contraption, I often have to build huge elaborate Redstone paths for no apparent reason. For example, if I simply want to make a Redstone current go UP, I have to build a whole big spiral staircase of blocks to place Redstone Wire on. Why can't I just have a stackable conductive block?
We have loads of material types and creature sizes, but all doors are tiny personal 1x2 doors made of generic Wood, OR Iron. Why not Stone, Sandstone, different types of Wood, Nether Brick, Quartz, etc?
When making architecturally elaborate buildings, Stair and Slabs are AWESOME, but every 10 minutes I find a vertical corner too dramatic, or a hole in a wall that's too deep, or I find I can't build a convincing statue because a block is too thick horizontally, etc etc. All this could be fixed if there were Stair and Slabs that were sideways.
I have all sorts of little issues like this with Minecraft, so that's why we need things like this:
- A conductive block (Redstone Wire and Redstone Blocks are insufficient)
- Bigger doors (2x4, 3x6, etc), and doors made of materials other than Oak.
- Sideways Stairs and sideways Slabs.
- Stairs and Slabs of almost every block type.
- Slabs that stack with Slabs of a different type.
- Fences for the other types of Wood. (Having only Oak and Nether Brick fences is annoying)
- The ability to build decorative statues and gargoyles.
- A "NOT gate" Redstone signal inverter block.

NATURE

To me, Minecraft is a sandbox world where I can really play god and make interesting places and things, but no matter how awesome my constructs in the world are, the world itself seems very hollow and lifeless. Like a model train world where everything is just a decoration. This game needs more wildlife and plant life.
- Plants that grow pickable fruit (aside from Cocoa/Jungle Trees). e.g. apple trees, grape vines, palm tree with coconuts, etc....
- Animals to make the world seem alive -
--- Camels for the deserts.
--- Whales, Sharks, Eels, Crabs, and Fish for the oceans.
--- Birds, Bears, and Deer for all the foresty/temperate biomes.
--- Penguins and Polar Bears for the snowy biomes.
--- Alligators, Frogs, and bugs for the swamp biomes.

BETTER OCEANS

Beyond the simple emptiness of the Minecraft world in general, the Ocean biomes are SUPER lifeless and pointless. I see water as purely decorative, or as an obstacle. At most I might need Ink and then I'll go kill a couple Squid for a minute, but otherwise I avoid the water as a pointless inconvenience. We need more underwater resources. Resources we like and need so that we have a reason to go into the water after them.
And beyond just resources, we need stuff to make the Oceans feel alive, like the aforementioned animals, but also reefs and such.
- Aquatic/Maritime stuff (the oceans are boring as hell)
--- Diving Gear (deep sea diving helmets, basically)--- Air tanks (to fuel the diving helmet)
--- Coral
--- Seaweed
--- Naturally occurring/functional Sponges--- Ships (something MUCH more grand than those dinky little boxes they call boats)
--- Orichalcum (ocean metal to build Maritime equipment like diving helmets, weighted boots, harpoons, anchors, air tanks, etc etc) Wikipedia:Orichalcum