Lately I've noticed random villagers walking towards the lagoon. Under action it says Laundry, but they aren't carring baskets of clothes. Has anyone else has this happen?

Yes, I've had that happen with the laundry and also with watering the crops. I'm not sure if it's just because I had so many other villagers doing the same task at the same time or if it is a random glitch.

at least my villagers aren't the only ones who seem to be deficient and / or defective

The cause might be if you notice this when you first turn the game on. Sometimes if they are in mid task you will not see the basket they are carrying or rock or anything until the hit one side of their goal, either drop it off, bring it back and start harvesting again. This was a known glitch in beta and what not as well if im not mistaken.