but I think the IC-R3 is okay for casual listening on shortwave (AM mode) from
5 MHZ to 30 MHZ.

It doesn't do SSB.

and from 0.495 MHZ through the AM hbroadcast band and up to 5 MHZ, the
reception is terible, not even good for casual listening.

I guess I'd have to call that "really casual listening".

I would have put a smiley there, except the sad thing about it is that I'm not
kidding.

It does seem to be at it's best (okay) on the regular scanner frequencies of 30
MHZ to 470 MHZ in NFM mode.