Selecting in CS4 : Adobe illustrator

I hope I'm not repeating a post. I have just done my first work in CS4
and have this first major question. In CS 1, when you have multiple
masked elements in a drawing, you can simply select ANY element,
whether it is an image or text that has a clipping path or an object
with an associated opacity mask as long as it is unlocked by using the
ordinary selection tools. This doesn't seem to be the case in CS4,
where (if I get this right) you have to select the top most clipping
path, click the "Edit content" button, then select the item you want
using the Layers palette. I think this is the new "Isolation Mode" at
work. If it is the new mode, is there a way to turn it off? My drawing
are rarely complex enough to make this a useful feature. As it is, it
just means a lot of extra clicking around.

Thanks, Randy Hare