I'd be all for a "loot" button for after a battle, looting all of the corpses (that aren't considered stealing, like at the gates of the druid grove). All other corpses (the ones already littering the map), containers, chests, and scattered items should be optional. You don't have to search through all of the crates and barrels to find an apple (to Firesnakearies' point), but you can if you want to.
