Something that would be enormously helpful and prevent a lot of unnecessary backtracking would be expanding on the capabilities of the shape builder tool in three key ways, though if any are possible, the first one would be most helpful.

1. Allow the use of the shapebuilder tool on objects contained in a mask.

2. Allow the shape builder tool to operate on an object outside of a mask using objects inside a mask

3. Allow for selective use of shape builder tool on specific objects in a group without ungrouping.