[BHSPitMonkey]

If you've used Drupal, what you're describing is simply the correct usage of one of its most powerful pieces: Views. However, even with its somewhat decent "query" editing interface, it's still a complex task that requires some critical data-oriented thinking skills. It's important, I think, for people to be able to format an electronic table about as easily as they can do it with a pen and paper. It's a fundamental formatting operation, IMO, and there should always be a fast/intuitive way of making them.