It really bugs me though because I don't like keeping ANYTHING in storage for long! If I have an item, I either make it work in the town and use it, or sell it. I hate not being able to get rid of something...so for now, I have a circle of twelve Lard Lads around the Billionaire's Retreat LOL. It looks like hell, but at least it will collect income until I can eventually space them out more, as you advised.
Incidentally, my multiplier is now at 300.45% :D You were right about the mystery boxes - there's nothing mysterious about them at all. First pick is crap (usually bomb shelter or Chalmer's car), second pick is crap (usually minnow pond or Khlav Kalash stand), third pick is either a news van worth 2 percent or a billboard worth one percent, fourth pick is either ten or thirty donuts, then it restarts back to crap item 1. Lard Lads are thrown in every few cycles.