I agree.. I use the remote without looking at the buttons (I have to look at the road you know.. =) and I caught the play by year button. I tried it again (seemed obvious to me) and nothing happened..
I'll remember the * button next time..
(Feature request, allow the buttons to be remapped, so I can use the button for something else, as I'm not going to use the play by year feature.. Little point when almost all of the music is from the last 2 years.. Play by Genre however.... =)

Jazz
(List 112, S/N 00030, 4 gig blue)