Thank you eb00ker -- those are helpful hints.
As I've familiarized myself with the interface, the experience of using the M96 has become much less ... hebephrenic. I'm even enjoying it most of the time.
The unit still seems to respond to wand - taps inappropriately, often enough to be disconcerting. I'll tap on an icon, only to have an icon two away from the one I just tapped respond. But I'm getting better.
My next hurdle: I'm so paranoid from my M92 nightmare, I can't imagine trying to take the M96 out of the house. I'm afraid I'll put it in my bag and the screen will spontaneously shatter, or something ... which stinks because I'd love to take it on the bus and stuff.
/G