Regarding the cables being in the way, what I did was get one of these:
http://www.obd2cables.com/products/p...products_id=89
and I hard wired it into the wires coming up to my factory OBD2 plug. now I have 2 plugs, one for the dealer to use and one hidden behind the dash that my elmscan is hooked to.
or if you arent good at soldering you could get a splitter like this:
http://www.obd2cables.com/products/p...products_id=85