@sort by:
You can already sort by name, or by type(extension) with windows explorer. Personally I prefer to sort by name, and then group by type
@Fast views:
http://qttabbar.wikidot.com/ QT tab bar has a file-preview that allows a preview to pop up when you hover a file (Supports: images, audio, video, and text files)
@Display a row of Icons
I'm not exactly sure what you mean here, but you can definitely configure classic explorers toolbar (or QT tabs bars) This includes adding up, back, and forward buttons, or buttons to any specific directory)
@reconfigure icons:
I have no idea here... do you mean changing the icon for multiple files at once?
@JungleGym of gadgets; Are you refering to the explorer ribbon? Yes, most of the options there, have hotkeys that you should be using, rendering them redundant to any power users. However My mom is 48 and she doesnt know how to copy, and paste.. so I guess its useful.. (Though you can remove the explorer ribbon with a little bit of googling)
@2 panels; Quite a few file explorer alternatives have this feature (In-fact QT tabs bar implements it quite nicely in windows explorer) though, I don't think any of them offer automated comparisons...
@wildcards to limit which files; Your thinking of a SEARCH; something that you can also already do in windows.. (If you type *.exe it will only show the .exe files in that folder; unless something happens to have .exe in its filename