You're supposed to be able to deploy to a remote server, which is non-selective - it copies all files. Like you I haven't had much luck with this feature either. My FTP uploads send a few files before it dies...
There's also the Copy Web Site Dialog, which frankly I don't quite get. You can copy individual files with it, which seems to work. But if you're using anything but uncompiled deployment copying source files will not work because ASP.NET fixes up the source files during pre-compilation. You can use the dialog to copy non-code files though - other than that I think the thing is useless, unless I'm missing something.
I've been deploying by using the pre-compiler and then using my FTP client to send up the files. At least that's reliable <g>.
+++ Rick ---
Rick Strahl [MVP]
West Wind Technologies
Making waves on the Web
www.west-wind.com/weblog