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In Amarok 2.1 there is a new layout editor that allows you to specify your own playlist layout by dragging playlist elements (album, title, length, etc) from a list and positioning them however you want. You are also able to turn the album cover on and off independently for the various layout components (header, body, and single). I think it would be much more useful if the album cover was another component of the layout that can be added, removed, and positions however you want.

Unlike the others it would need to be re-sizable vertically. This could be implemented by simply dragging the lower edge of the album art element. It would snap to a certain number of rows (so it could be one row high, two rows, etc). An alternative would simply be for the slider, which for other elements sets their width, would instead set the height (in rows of text) for the cover. Zero would be the automatic sizing amarok currently has, but it could also be set to a specific number of rows

There are several advantages to this way of doing things. One is that it allows much more flexibility in positioning the album art. Currently it can only be on the far left, this way it can be on the right, in the middle, or anywhere else the user wants it.

Second, it allows the user to set the height of the album art. Currently it must be as tall as that row in the playlist. This allows you to set it to be as large as the current row or smaller. This makes it a lot easier to make the album art a consistent size.

Third, it allows you to put text below the album art, something that is currently not possible.

Fourth, it allows the user to have multiple instances of the album art. Although I would not want to do this, others might.