Hmm - okay have tried

rwm
player
# now wait for the player to rebuild databases and start up,
# then hit Control^C to kill it again, and do:
rom
exit

and tried

rwm
exec player
# Control^C took me to Shell Exit so I had to use another Control^C to kill it again, and do:
rom
exit

Both methods took about the same time - around 20 minutes at Building music databases and around 15 minutes at Loading playlists. And I get a time out on emplode if I try to connect (building databases doesn't complete by the time emplode gives up)

My next thing to try is timing on the Control^C - does it make a difference if I do it while the Loading Playlists message is up?

Also, interesting information point - if I wait the half hour until the player comes up selecting playlist from the front panel immediately gives me a segfault (maybe that is normal behaviour as I guess my playlists are nuked at that point)