Re: Mobile apps I would have to agree an app would improve the experience significantly. I mostly like to browse SN on desktop opening up tabs as going back-forward between main-page and topics is cumbersome on mobile. Similarly mobile apps on reddit improve the experience significantly. That being said, it would be an immense investment to weigh against additional core feature expansion.
I actually don't think the briefcase looks too bad. Maybe put it on hold until we implement polling feature to see what hive-mind thinks :P