Two problems with Amarok: crashing & non-playing

[AG]

Hi

As the subject suggests, Amarok continues to give me problems on Debian 
testing/ wheezy.

(1) I have to periodically keep removing local files in order to prevent 
it from crashing when I launch it, i.e. by removing 
~/.kde/share/config/amarok_homerc .  However, after a couple of tries, 
Amarok crashes again, which seems to necessitate me removing 
~/.kde/share/config/amarok_homerc again.  This surely can't be right, 
and in any event it is a major PITA having to set up all of the 
preferences, etc., again.  Any suggestions for a longer term fix that 
stays fixed?

(2) This may/ not be related, but Amarok will play okay once I have 
removed ~/.kde/share/config/amarok_homerc, but then after a while of not 
using Amarok and either leaving it or simply closing it and opening it 
up again later, the progress bar doesn't move, no sound is produced on 
playback, even though the time indicator suggests that something is 
being played back.

These issues are making Amarok less than useful.  Trouble is, I don't 
know if this is a local issue or whether others have been experiencing 
this as well.  The Amarok list seems such low volume that it is 
difficult to establish if the list is even active and/ or whether this 
application is still supported.  I hope it is, because I used to rate 
Amarok as my favourite music player on various polls, but at this rate I 
just can't use it anymore, which is a real shame.

Can anyone help shine a light on this and help make Amarok usable for me 
again?

Many thanks.

AG