> Kenny, or anyone else who knows, how is it that the default run level
> in /etc/inittab was still 2, but gdm/kdm/xdm started up anyway? I
> thought that run level 2 meant that the system was supposed to boot
> into text mode, and that the gui login managers weren't supposed to
> start up.

    Run levels 2 through 5 are the same in Debian, or at least they were in 'Woody.'  Debian basically uses just one runlevel, settling for a *working* single-user setup for complete novices.  
    Debian should initially start up in runlevel 3, but dpkg's install scripts don't bother to assume which runlevel you like to use, so they just install the same startup symlinks in all runlevels (meaning 2 thru 5).  Debian just tries to make what you install work, regardless.  If you want to restrict services, you need to add/remove their symlinks from the appropriate /etc/rc?.d directories.
    All of the init scripts are located in /etc/init.d, and are pointed to by symlinks located in /etc/rc#.d (where '#' is a number from 0 to 6).  If the symlink begins with an 'S', the script is started with the word 'start' and if it begins with a 'K', it appends the word 'stop' when the script is run.  Following the 'S' or 'K' modifier is a number from 00 through 99.  Debian has set things up so that each symlink is executed in numerical order.  If you're running in runlevel 2, the entire contents of /etc/rc2.d are executed.  If this has been changed in 'Sarge,' then the following may not be applicable. <sighs>  The following command is the (ahem) "proper" way to restrict X display managers in Debian to runlevel 5: <winces>

rm /etc/rc[2-4].d/S99[gkx]dm

    That *should* remove the offending symlinks from runlevels 2 through 4, and leave runlevel 0, 1, 5, and 6 alone.  Or if you plan on staying with runlevel 2, you can just:

rm /etc/rc2.d/S99[gkx]dm

    That will remove all display manager links from runlevel 2 alone, as the display manager is usually the last (99th) service started.  I hope it's still the same in Sarge, else I dunno.

    BTW: Did they tweak mailx so it no longer calls vi to edit message texts?  (At least I found ntpdate to synch the system clock...good thing I still had a backup copy of Debian's /etc dir.)  Anyway, I hope the heads-up helps,

        Michael