AETNARIA  I did run the 10.5.3 update recently, though I'm not sure that caused it.  
(Version 2.5.2)

KAMALABOULHOSN  Weather.com changed their format. The 2.5.3 update should fix the problem.  
(Version 2.5.3)

ANONYMOUS  Having it retain the last maps would be impossible unless you have it set to save maps. Otherwise, the widget needs to know to go into the cache, save the maps, and display them. This is not possible.  
(Version 2.0)

HOTFREAKS  I have tried setting it to save maps, but it does not. At the moment, the widget looks broken when used on a laptop every time you disconnect from the internet. I'm not suggesting its broken, it is just not very functional on a powerbook.  
(Version 2.3)

KAMALABOULHOSN  You will have to be a little more specific than "the widget looks broken." When you say it won't save maps, do you mean the maps do not display or that they do not seem to be stored for any period of time? How does the widget look to be broken?  
(Version 2.3)

ANONYMOUS  This is odd as I am on a 1Ghz system with 1GB of RAM and have noticed very little, if any slowdown. If you have a lot of maps saved then yes, it will be a bit slower just by virtue of the fact that it is storing a lot more information and has a lot more maps to update. When you say it doesn't refresh, what do you mean? When trying to update to get new maps? When loading Dashboard and looking at the maps? For me, it has updated without any problems. If you have a large number of widgets, it is possible to experience a slowdown as well, with Dashboard needing to load its contents back into RAM on load. This will slow down RiM or any other widget.  
(Version 2.0b)

KAMAL  Thanks for your comments! The weather alerts should appear in a colored bar across the top of the widget. Currently, the widget displays alerts for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and floods. I imagine more will follow inevitably (hurricanes and snow storms being obvious ones). If they are not showing up for you, let me know the region for which you were trying to retrieve an alert and the kind of alert there was and I'll see if I can find a problem.  
(Version 1.1)

KAMAL  I think the behavior of going back to the default settings upon creating a new instance of the widget is consistent with the behavior of Apple's own widgets, including Weather and World Clock. Therefore, I think it is likely to continue working as it does. I have considered making the default map something other than the map of my personal location, though.

As for your other suggestion, I think it might be a bit unnecessary, since the buttons disappear when the widget does not have focus. Adding an option to not have them display could clutter up the preferences for the widget and I'm trying to keep only necessary preferences available.

Thanks for your comments!  
(Version 1.1)

DARREN  Hence my asking for it becoming an option. Obviously it was removed because some didn't like it. But for those who DO, it makes sense to add a check-box as he's done for other things.  
(Version 1.0)

ANONYMOUS  I think the auto zoom feature will return at some point. It's really a matter of figuring out what groups there are in using the widget. The ability to make the map larger can serve two purposes:

1) Make the widget larger on a permanent basis. For this, dynamic resizing is the way to go.

2) Zoom in temporarily to focus on something interesting. For this, the click to zoom seems to be a better idea.

I think the inevitable will be to make it so the click does resize again, although given its focus will be on 2), I think it will come in the form of clicking and holding the mouse down will zoom and then releasing the mouse will put it back the previous size. I'm still pondering the best way to do this. One of the problems is that the change in size can make the widget go off the screen if one is not careful. Therefore, one has to take care to check the edges of the screen and the widget and I'm not completely sure how to do this just yet.

But I am working on it and I do appreciate the feedback!  
(Version 1.0)