The same exact thing happens to me. I also noticed that the launcher downloads updates every restart but hasn't actually updated its GUI. It looks the same as ever instead of the new way it's supposed to look.
It did not crash when I placed item frames. The stack count went to a red 0, which when clicked on disappeared, but the game does crash whenever I try to place a flowerpot.
Still an issue for 15w45a.
Still an issue in 15w45a. Once encountering the unloaded chunk, essentially everything freezes except for the minecart sound if you're in one. None of the buttons work unless you disconnect and reconnect.
Can confirm and added short video example. It seems to activate the redstone while simultaneously placing a block but there is no block placement sound.