Leif,
I agree with you on so many levels. However, I have been able to make a little work around to your problem. A few things first, This is a real quick and dirty way of doing it, and it only works if you are not exporting it to a visualization program.
Okay. First thing I do is Draw out all my lenghts of truss that I am using in a structure. For example, I want to draw a tilted circle.
Draw a circle truss in the normal plane. Highlit the enitre structure, then, Modify > Convert> Convert to 3D Polys. Then I will insert one symbol from each type of fixture I am using. Again, repeat the modify steps for them. Then hang them on your truss where you want it.
After the lights are hung and your basic geometry is drawn,Select all the lights and truss and Group them. You can now rotate in any direction you want.
If you want to take it one step further, you can Create a symbol of the Lights after they are converted to 3d polys. This way you can use them later on. Also, it is still possible to attach a light record to these once they are symbols again.
If you need a plan view as well, your best bet with this is to simply create another layer with standard symbols in them (unless you are okay with a wire frame plot) The plus side is as a 3d poly, you still can open GL and or renderwork the unit.
Hope it helps a little bit. My heart goes out to you. All I want to be able to do is hang a light in any orientation quickly and easily.
