I'd like the ability to set a packages status. For example to place a package on "Hold" so that it's not upgraded, removed, etc. For instance you could run something like "emerge -set hold openssh" And have portage tell you that you're placing openssh on hold. So if you went to do an "emerge --update world --pretend" rather than saying "[B] Blocked" it would say "[H] Hold" and move on. Ideally if another package were to DEPEND on that package being upgraded it should say something to the effect of "hey, this package is on Hold, but I need to upgrade it to complete foo request is this o.k.? y/N" and act accordingly. Similar functionality can be found in debian's dpkg utility, see the "--set-selections" option. Personally I'd like to see this sort of functionality go into another tool. If you read the manpages for dpkg and rpm there's dozens and dozens of options, and several "modes" which have thier own options which are incompatible with other "modes" options. This sorta thing lends to unusability IMHO.
This should be possible via the world file (=net-misc/openssh-2.0.1 should keep it "held" to 2.0.1) but it would be nice to have Portage explicitly inform you during --update world when this is actually going on with [H] as you describe.
*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 2767 ***
