Keystrokes should really be interpreted as text characters only while the chat box/console is open. Some keys still cause actions when typed in chat. Since I have turbo bound to spacebar, auto-turbo cuts out every time I type a sentence to the comm. Aggravating_to_no_end_sometimes.

That was done by intention.
For example, if you are turboing, and then start chatting, you release the space bar. Then, when you're done chatting, your spacebar is up, and it used to be that your turbo was still going but your turbo key was not down, causing confusion. AKA stuck keys. (especially when you have other keys down like strafe).
So, the remedy was to stop turboing, for example, when your turbo key is released in chat mode.

Yes, we get far more complaints about stuck keys than we get about not being able to intentionally stick your keys. :)

Isn't the answer simple? Alias/BInd the turbo key to one you don't normally use. I have auto-turbo bound to my insert key. Tap insert to auto-turbo, hit Tab to stop turboing.

This solves all but 2 problems.

a) if you turbo-warp (eff engine and fast batt infinite turbo), when you come through the gate you'll have to hit the tab key twice to be able to turbo again (once to kill the autoturbo, the second to turbo again). Similar situation if you turbo until you drain your battery.

b) tab-completing in chat kills the turbo.

The second situation is easily solved - bind turbo to a key other than tab, like home or delete.