I assume you're using mods like kethane? Because as of right now there is no functional reason in the vanilla game to differentiate between satellites and probes. You could set them as landers or rovers if that helps. Once resources are brought into the game and once there's a use for the communotrons I could see the need for more craft types. Perhaps you could post this in the addon requests and get the modders to add craft types relevant to the parts in their mods?
Ya, I had a ton of trouble launching my satellites in my new .21 save. They used to have a small amount of SAS, but now they have none. We definately need at least a .5m ASAS otherwise I will never be able to stop my probe's rotation completely.
It probably works similar to the old ball-style mouse. Except that instead of sensors, the little rolling pins inside are motors. Sorry to ruin the magic...