Tom - thats a really helpful bit of investigative work you've done there. I can myself having gone through similar extensive head scratching to solve a similar problem, had you not brought this to light.
Not a sight I'd want to see in my targeting computer
However, if it were a permissions issue I wouldn't have been able to save the changed files in the first place.
Yes, I thought of that, but it's not strictly true. Some people install their linux software in unusual ways, such that (as an example) GIMP has Owner access to the saved file whereas Oolite had mere Group access, and therefore couldn't read the file that GIMP could save.
This is an unlikely setup, but I thought it might have an oustide chance. Glad you got it sorted.
I made it into an oxp for my own use & installed it into RHits. Two jumps later I met my own creation being flown by a pirate! Very hard to see. One or two rough edges need tidying.
