Loren,
One thing I was going to mention about the disable_emplode=1 config.ini setting... You have:
Disallows emplode access completely. Blocks TCP port 8300 (Emplode/Emptool)
NOTE! - if ;@WORK (or other modifier) is left off, you'll have to FTP or revert to older kernal to turn this option off!!
I think that's a little overstated. It doesn't completely block emplode access. Emplode will still work over the serial port, or USB. You wouldn't necessarily have to ftp or revert to an old kernel to turn that off.
Might be better to just say it disables ethernet emplode access.
Chris