FWIW, you can manually download plugins and put them in ./azureus/plugins, so there is a workaround for this. Putting instructions in README.Debian would probably be sufficient for dealing with this bug, IMHO.
See: http://www.azureuswiki.com/index.php/Install_Plugins -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]