For task management you can use the build in issues and tools that integrate with that https://about.gitlab.com/applications/#scrum-boards

Your navigation remarks are spot on and inspired me to make this issue https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/2225

Doesn't the lockout expire at some point? I agree it would be nice to reset from the UI.

Mmm, I thought that if an admin added a user they didn't have to verify their email.

Do you mean something like project services? http://doc.gitlab.com/ce/integration/README.html

I agree that your shouldn't change .rb files. Please contribute any improvements you make so we can include them.