What I did was to install KUAL and the MR Package Installer as per the KUAL thread here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=203326
Once KUAL was functional I then copied the launchpad installer to the mrpackages directory, unplugged my K3, opened KUAL and launched the MR Package Installer. The installer took it from there and installed launchpad for me.
As long as KUAL remains functional it appears that we can use the MR Package Installer to install the jailbreak and other packages even with the OTA updater malfunctioning.
Dave