After using Amarok 1.3.x for a long time, I was dismayed when the 1.4.x branch destroyed my ability to build a collection from MP3s on a network drive (SMB).

Through OS upgrades and newer versions of Amarok, I have continued to be disappointed by the failure to fix this problem.

Is it ever going to be fixed? Or should I just quit checking back here? I hate to be overly critical, but it's like being given a beautiful new car, and having someone yank one of the wheels off - it's absolutely perfect except for the fact that you can't use it.

have you followed the instructions on the amarok wiki, discussing samba?
http://amarok.kde.org/wiki/Samba

Yes, I have. Unfortunately, it does not help the problem. The collection build chokes if it attempts to process a large batch of files.

Since others manage to build their collections happily, it could well be circumstances relating to your system - perhaps if you offered up some little tidbits of information your problem could be solved, or at least determined.

Bear in mind also, that samba is not terribly reliable in itself when processing large amounts of data.