So I use the automounter and specify the -i and -s flags to enable interruptible and soft mounts. This solution may not save you from the Finder locking up (you'll have to wait for the soft timeout), but if you have Terminal running, you can terminate stalled programs, such as the Finder.
But I discovered a memory of sorts in the kernel ... mounts once mounted as hard mounts will not demonstrate the behavior of interruptible or soft mounts when remounted. A reboot is required. Umounting and then remounting does not prove sufficient.

