As a longtime fan in an AL city, I totally agree that the DH sucks.
What REALLY infuriates me - beyond the basic concepts you've outlined - is that we get no relief during interleague play (which is another abomination).
If we must have interleague play (that "natural rivalry" between the Padres and Mariners is scintillating every year), let's at least play NL rules in AL parks and vice-versa. Sure, it would somewhat diminish the home field advantage, but it would bring some life to the interleague schedule.
Of course, the DH has been "the rule" in the AL for nearly 40 years. As such, the greatest DH in the history of baseball (Edgar Martinez) deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
