So, I still am not clear when exactly the bootloader changed.

In the list archives,

Per Dale in July/Aug 2004:
------------
The cobalt "bios" is actually a linux kernel in rom.  It definitely
has some size limitations, both compressed and uncompressed.  Search
the archives of this list for more info.

To get around these problems, the current netbsd "rescue" disk installs
a netbsd bootloader but renamed as vmlinux.gz so the linux firmware
can load/run it.  It does not have the size limitations that the
firmware loader has.  It (of course) knows about netbsd partions and
netbsd kernel names, so you don't need to fiddle around with copying a
new kernel to the linux partition anymore.
-------------

What I'm not clear on, to which "rescue" CD is he referring?  When did 
this change really happen?  I had gathered that the netboot CD that 
Dennis made had this limitation, at least an existing limitation was 
brought up on the list a few times not that long ago.  I see nothing in 
the netbsd/cobalt file trees or portion of netbsd.org website with a 
rescue CD for cobalt/MIPS- since we have no CD-ROM drive, that's not 
surprising.

I installed 1.6.1 from Dennis' netboot CD. Am I good to build whatever 
size 2.0 kernel I want, or do I have to grab the new, renamed 
bootloader from one of the 2.0 netboot CD .iso's. I have unpacked all 
the 2.0 stuff (I think:) and have no vmlinux.gz in those trees anyway.

Is this a totally idiotic question? <grin> If so, why?

I'm feeling like this is another case of the existing, everyone (but 
me) seems to know, but it isn't documented thing- like pulling specific 
branches like the     cvs with -rpkgsrc-2004Q4
example on this list recently.

Thanks,

Brian