wp_get_archives No Category Support?!

Why in the world does “wp_get_archives” not support categories? I have been searching for a clean way to display posts from only one Category by date, in a drop down, etc. and it’s like banging my head against a wall.

EXAMPLE: My client wants a page that displays posts from only one category. She wants the posts displayed by date grouping, or by date dropdown (like a regular archive page would, but for only ONE category).

I’ve been searching this topic for nearly two hours, and while there are lots of people suggesting php loops, plug-ins, etc., none of them are as clean as simply adding “cat=x” to the wp_get_archives command.

This seems like an incredibly simple thing for WordPress to implement, and something that so many people are asking for.

The blog I am working on doesn’t have a side bar, please don’t suggest a category link in the sidebar.

Please don’t suggest a plug-in; this should not have to run through a plug-in.

Please gon’t show me a php loop. I know what a PHP loop is, and how to implement one. The point is, “wp_get_archives” should simply support categories!

There should be a simple answer to this oft asked question, but apparently there isn’t one!