"0db maximum"
Correct, but from the receiver, 0db is max volume. Where it defaults to is 25 (on scale of 0 to 50), which is about -6db.

"I wasn't aware that Displayserver included a volume hack"
Yes, it does include the volume hack.

"In my experience, the player shoud turn on at the same volume it was at when it was turned off."
This is not the case with mine. It often forgets these settings.

A possible cause for this may be my server configuration. My domain controller's DHCP server is handing the receiver an ip number, so it is constant. I do this throught the usual MAC address translation. Then, the DNS can have a host name for that IP. This makes it possible for me to have a more friendly url. In this case, receiver.sitehound.net, on my home network. But from time to time, I check in through my PocketPC to see what the baby sitter is listening to while we are out. Freaks her out when I change the music selection by remote though!

None the less... I am curious if these settings can be persisted through the software, so that they maintain, even across power outages.