This issue unfortunately even on the latest 1.6.1.x .
If in the list of products click on column status for enabling inactive product, its status will be changed, but the product cannot be found in the front.
Only way to make it visible to front is do activation (switch status to active) via product form and save it.
Could you please checked what's wrong. If you need any additional information about my shop configuration, let me know.
Thanks