he, he, Not the first time I've heard that.
While in software quality assurance I was not on the 'favorite' list of many of the people I worked with. I often went around and broke fingers - metaphorically speaking, of course.

Things change. Mistakes happen. Someone probably screwed up a line of code.
Anyway, write a report if you haven't already and I'm sure their fingers will be appropriately broken for the indiscretion.

With a sturdy tripod as a base, they will definitely help.
Although I use the two second timer and have had good results without the need for cabled or IR remote.

But when you don't have two seconds to stand around and wait, either the IR remote or cable remote work equally as well, as far as eliminating any additional possibility of shake.

edit: argh beaten to it. Should not have turned around for the sip of tea...

Depending on your use, change one to sRGB, the other to AdobeRGB. The underscore should be removed from the file name. I don't believe this affects RAW storage of the data, just the file name.
(It doesn't make sense to me that it would but I don't know how to validate that -- On MY system, the color management is not consistent even for a single format, so I won't trust what I see when using both).

Otherwise other options my just make things worse such as resetting numbering for each card change. It would be nice if Pentax included a Camera ID with its naming.

Of course, if you have something like ACDsee or LightRoom, the import utility should be able to rename the files and you could add your own ID... you just have to remember to do so. (Does PSE5 have an import utility?) At least the software "should" also have some sort of overwrite/rename protection just in case the numbers overlap at some point.

Sounds like dust on the sensor.

Sensor shaker is near useless. (totally useless in my opinion, but some people find it helpful)

Would try an air blower first. Not a big deal to clean the sensor with other methods but why bother the hassle if a shot of air will do the trick. (Almost two years with my K10D and never used more than air to clean)

The Rocket Blower is probably the greatest invention on earth for "no-touch" cleaning of the sensor.

"Add" as in using as an alternative, or in addition to the constant lights?
The flash and brolly would make for nice photos on their own and in my opinion may be well worth it.
But when added with continuous lights you may need to be careful of light color. If the constant lights are not color matched to the flash you'll have a hard time getting the final image to look right.
You might also have a hard time keeping the flash down low enough to not over power the 300w bulbs. But you can always move it back, add more diffusers, etc... to help work around that if the flash does not go low enough (something like the Pentax 360 or 540, that should not be a big problem).

Nothing weird between me and my camera, honest! The camera was in the shower alone at the time!
(It was the singing from the shower that somehow bothered me...)

Being a software engineer, you test your product and simulate various environments to prove whether your product works under those conditions before putting it live into the field.
Well, same thing.

Anyway, if you just got a camera and lens that is "supposed" to be weather proof, what would you do? Sit for weeks waiting for enough rain while your not at work just to see if the camera is working properly?
Of course not.

I'm not going on an outing with my Canon and Nikon "friends" to be laughed at when it rains and my "weather proof" camera fries in a blue puff of smoke.

Instead I go out confidently photographing in the rain while the rest of the group hides under a shelter ending up with no photos.

Even those with weather proof cameras did not trust the seals and wasted their day simply because they never tested their equipment and were afraid to try. To THAT, I ask "why"?

Had my K10D with DA* 50-135 under the shower.
Also has the K10D with DA* 16-50 in a hellacious storm where rain was falling much harder than anything my shower could have produced.
Been in mild rain numerous times.

Although if you don't mind the odd looks, a plastic grocery bag works just as well for a lot less. Did that for years with the istD.
Even at Niagara falls on the Maid of the Mist boat at the bottom of the falls, I simply poked a hole in the free rain poncho and secured with the lens hood.
Terrible photos - front of lens covered with water, but no damage to the camera or lens.

Great. SilkyPix is a great product.
Note that a new version is to come out shortly... at least that is the rumored expectation.

Since you are on the SilkyPix forums, keep an eye out for a notification to that effect. You may want to hold off on your purchase, or check what your upgrade options are. i.e. some companies offer free upgrade if you recently purchased the older version. No guarantee, so check it out.

http://www.shortcutinc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=839#post839

They are a bit slow responding lately. And like you stated, the SilkyPix forum has reported some complaints in that area since Shortcut Software took over.

There should be no cost when switching computers or to upgrade the OS. (I would be surprised at any licensing scheme that did not allow that... unless it was a Microsoft product of course, ugh!!)

If you want to run on both computers, I think the extra license is something like $29. I have upgraded mine with no hassles, just used the same registration code and it works.