Fade-in playback speed

Consider using slowmoVideo to perform the speed changes you want and then import the resulting file into Shotcut:
http://slowmovideo.granjow.net/

It is unlikely variable playback speed will be implemented in Shotcut due to the complexity of the problem. Shotcut always needs to know the exact length of each clip. It is difficult to calculate the length of a clip if the speed changes multiple times throughout.