2. Sorry, I don't know how to use the "testing repo". I just barely understand the idea of Gslapt.
When you run Gslapt, certain repositories are available by default. To change those, you go to Edit, Preferences, Sources and enable Testing in one of the choices. In order to make sure any needed dependencies are pulled down, I always have
patches
packages
extra
testing
gsb
enabled. gsb contains stuff from Gnome, which some non-gnome packages need. I've never investigated how much of gnome you can get through the gsb repo. When you are considering what you might want to install, the Common tab on the main screen listing available packages has a line, Source. If it lists /testing, remember that the package isn't considered tested enough to place in the usual repos. However, as I said before, packages frequently don't get a lot of testing before they are moved to the usual repos, so don't feel like a pioneer if you try one.

It would help a lot if you would mention your success or problems in the "VL package news and Updates" section of the forum under the announcement of the package.
I use, with great success, XOSL. I have used XOSL with any number of Linux distros, without any difficulty. I must be doing something wrong, for I cannot reach the Vector boot sector on sda4, post installation.
I can't help at all with that because the only boot loader I've ever used is the Windows XP boot loader. I've never had a problem with it. All of my Linuxes are versions of VectorLinux. I lost interest in other distros years ago. Since VectorLinux 7 switched to the widespread Linux naming of all hard drive partitions as /dev/sdx rather than /dev/hdx, versions of VL that were installed using /dev/hdx will not boot with LILO for VL7. There is a workaround for that but I never cared enough to comprehend what I'd have to do and actually do it. I never use the older versions anyway. They are on my hard drive for historical reasons and because I occasionally need a file or library that isn't in the newer versions and I can just copy it from the previous installation.
Root Schmmoot. Who cares? do I care? NO. Absolutely not. I use my computer. No one else. It is not a server. I don't share it with anyone else. Root for me is an abstraction, an irritant.
We've been through that before. I think you *should* care because the security of your computer is at stake. I assure you that Linux isn't going to abandon root/user distinctions. Even if you use a Mac or Windows since XP, you'll find a distinction between administrator and user. So I guess if you're going to use Linux, you'll have to live with an irritant. Of course, you can run as root all the time if that's your choice. I don't recommend it but it's your machine.
>> I don't do ANYTHING, because Apple, or M$ do it that way. >>
I wasn't saying you should do anything because Microsoft or Apple do it that way. I was just pointing out that your categorical statement that desktop icons ought to respond to a single click and anything else is so '80s wasn't seen that way by Microsoft, which has done extensive redesigns of the desktop, as well as several Linux desktops. I don't know if the Mac requires double clicks. With KDE I know you have a choice of single clicks or double clicks. So if single clicks are so important to you, use KDE, not XFce. I don't know if a single click is an option with Gnome.
If Vector Linux wishes to ENABLE, obsolete technology, that is no problem, from my perspective. BUT, it is a REAL problem, if the distro requires users to behave in a manner consistent with the norms of obsolete technology.
Who made you the judge of what is or is not "obsolete technology"? PLEASE--you are entitled to strong preferences, as are we all. But our preferences are NOT the standard to which all users and all desktops and all OSes must be held. As far as having no interest in VectorLinux if you can't get a single click for launching a desktop icon, well, VL 6 SOHO with KDE does offer a single click. So maybe Standard is not for you and you'd be happier with SOHO. I doubt any of us would deny you a choice you prefer.
To change to a single click in Thunar, go to Edit, Preferences, Behavior, and select Single click to activate items. However, this applies just to Thunar, not to desktop icons. If you would like an entire XFce single click option, you should mention this to the XFce developers. If there's enough interest, I'm sure it would eventually get incorporated.
--GrannyGeek