Guilty as charged -- didn't read all the responses. You're earlier response addresses the issue properly (e.g. I didn't know about the block names beginning with a "*" thing), but I'll leave my post, ignorant as it is rather than make your last one look out of place.
PS: I've never used dynamic blocks, does it show?
PS: As you note, dxf state flags, effective name etc. would have been nice; grrrr.
:ugly: