Cliff-
I have trimmed down the .config so that the initrd.img is under 5MB. I figured, if I can't get the newer kernel to run I'd might as well lean out the old one while I was inclined and while I had my head into it.
I'll attach the .config I'm using now, but don't knock yourself out if you don't have time.
I was disappointed in the response at the other forums, but I can't say it's normal to get no responses. I posted at the Ubuntu forums which
IMO are the most active and cooperative forums I have ever been on. Also I tried linuxquestions.org and linuxforums.org. Neither of them got any responses as well. I can only think that it is a pretty obscure and unique problem.
I can't say for sure that the RT mailing list would be a bad idea, but after trolling it for awhile I can tell I'd be out of my element, so I'd prolly make a nuisance of myself. Better for me to have a bit more knowledge before I tred in there. A few of those developers are bona fide legends, like Theodore T'so and Ingo Molnar. Guys like that are off the planet.