Someone did start writing a replacement player, but I don't recall if it was ever opensourced. It didn't really get very far, and, as best I could tell, its introduction to the add-on software pool met a very lukewarm response. There are a limited number of gurus on this board who are capable of rewriting the player app from scratch, and most (if not all) of them have shown absolutely no inclination in doing so when the topic has come up in the past. This is one of those itches that, if you want it scratched, you're going to have to scratch it yourself.

Cheers,