Pallets will always be an issue because Sage50 likes individual products. You could have a stock item for outers but then you've got to remember to move quantities from the outers codes to the individual products. Probaly best to stick with what you're doing.

Sage200 might have that type of facility.

it isn't really practical, wonder if this is something Sage  will look at. We have looked at Sage200 and it is Mega bucks to swap over

Sage does not have conversion units, so you cannot book in pallets etc. You can add-on bar code stock management from a third party.