I thought about removing the pause and serve valve from the filter basket and brewing into a different container, but I'd want a spare to do that to, not my only filter basket. This would be handy for making iced coffee or just brewing into a replacement carafe. I agree that the carafe spout design leaves something to be desired, but I'm not motivated enough to worry about it right now.
Great minds... I was considering doing the same thing to mine but had similar reservations.