Why can't we get basic improvements (like a drop down calendar to choose a specific due date for a course) as promised?

Picking a due date is an option in our tenant. When you go to the settings under the course title and select 'due date' you should be able to select due 'within' or due 'on' . If you select due on you can click the date hyperlink and it becomes a calendar icon to select a due date. You just wouldn't want to do a calendar date for smart groups that may include future new hires, as the due date may have passed when onboarding new hires.

Instructure is being sold. I'm not sure if the sale has been finalized but the layoff of 100 employees a couple of months ago is an indication of changes that are coming. In the past, if Bridge said they were going to do something, they did. However, in the last year, this has ceased to be the truth. I would say that everything is up in the air until the sale goes through and we see which direction the investment group wants to go in. I'm searching for a new LMS... but I may keep Bridge.