Is there anyway to automatically deploy Case Escalation Rules and Actions using either Eclipse or the Foce.com deploy tool?

We are trying to test Workflow rules from Apex tests.  WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN JUST MEETING CODE COVERAGE but in actually testing the functionality of the rule. 

Our Rule: (defined manually from SalesForce builder)

When an Opportunity is created, we create a new Task linking it to that opportunity

Apex test (pseudo code)

create valid opportunity

insert opportunity

get all Tasks

assert that new Task was created. (FAILS)

The rule however works when you manually create the opportunity through SalesForce UI 

When constructing a dynamic SOQL query, the Limit does not seem to work in test code, but it does work in production code.

Please see question posted on StackOverflow

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3998037/soql-limit-clause-not-working-in-dynamic-query-using-like

It still appears that the recommendation coming from SalesForce is Manual deployment, for many meta data components.  I honestly don't think that you can call SalesForce DaaS (Development as a Service) or PaaS (Platform as a Service) without fully automated deployment.

The Migration Tool is severely limited, the ANT task is bareable, however even the simple task of setting the access rights on visual force pages is a manual task.

When is this expected to be fully automated?

We are trying to test Workflow rules from Apex tests.  WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN JUST MEETING CODE COVERAGE but in actually testing the functionality of the rule. 

Our Rule: (defined manually from SalesForce builder)

When an Opportunity is created, we create a new Task linking it to that opportunity

Apex test (pseudo code)

create valid opportunity

insert opportunity

get all Tasks

assert that new Task was created. (FAILS)

The rule however works when you manually create the opportunity through SalesForce UI 

When constructing a dynamic SOQL query, the Limit does not seem to work in test code, but it does work in production code.

Please see question posted on StackOverflow

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3998037/soql-limit-clause-not-working-in-dynamic-query-using-like

When you initially deploy a managed package to a new org, for the things that cannot be packaged does anybody have any tips on how to get them setup in the new org (other than manually doing them via the point & click UI in setup)?  ie for items such as:

-time based workflow

-sharing rules

-field history tracking

-page layout assignments

Similarly, for things in a package that are not upgradable, how to get any new changes applied to the new org other than manually doing them:

-page layouts

-dashboards

-reports

-email templates