So, setting the flags to read only does prevent the boot process from "fixing" xorg.conf. (Sorry - I thought I could set up the test before logging in.)

Unfortunately, the the boot process still insists on ignoring by setting, and uses the "correct" settings from my old monitor that I was using when I installed Gutsy.

And, as I said before, the xrandr and grandr tools don't (automatically) change the size and position of the tool bars.

So, back to struggling with the Python code in /usr/share/python-support/guidance-backends/ to see if I can figure out how they should be changed so, for example, they use the first mode listed in the xorg.conf file even if that's not a mode that the program "computes" to be valid. Perhaps only if xorg.conf is marked as read only as an "indication" that the backend's assistance, while usually welcome, it's not needed for the display settings.

This will, I fear, take some time since I have other current commitments. (Like keeping the afore mentioned wife relatively happy, and visiting our daughter and new granddaughter. )