Update on the situation.
I do have indeed a line in the config file saying
source /web/{$server}/parameters/{$server}.tcl
and said file does exist, and it does set the value of the boolean to
1 (the "t" and 0 were let's-see-what-this-button-does things)
There is no mention of the file in the server log though...
I did install aolserver-3.3ad13 and got the very same problem, which is further discouragement...
Just to fill you in on the recent developments.
Any further ideas?
have fun.
B.