I agree, there is no happy medium when it comes to removing ash. You rarely come across a situation where you are comfortable spiking it, you never feel comfortable free climbing (I don't anyway), and it seems up in Maine when you come across one they are diseased. Obviously the disease is causing the issues but I agree ash, ehh...
I like to hear it's good for burning because where I work we do line clearance for the local power company and it seems in every couple of pole spans we come across an ash, usually I just grab big old oak for a family member next time I am going to give him a truckload of ash and see what he has for comments for me.