mike> really want NetBSD).  everytime i try to boot the ofwboot.xcf file (boot
mike> atapi:,OFWBOOT.XCF -a), i get the same old

mike> unrecognized Client Program formatstate not valid

Try exact string as
0> boot atapi: netbsd.macppc
or
0> boot atapi@0:0 netbsd.macppc

Note that you need 'boot-device' space 'boot-file'.
       
I have just tried similar thing on my StarMax 3000/240,
OF 2.0.2 machine.
CDimage is 1.5.1 found at
  ftp://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/iso/1.5.1/macppccd.iso

and typed following string.
0 > boot ata/atapi-disk@0:0 netbsd.macppc 
>> NetBSD/macppc OpenFirmware Boot, Revision 1.2
>> (matt@duel.local, Mon Jun 18 08:12:39 PDT 2001)
no active package3716244+153080=0x3b0d2c
 start=0x800000

---
(Makoto Fujiwara)
http://www.ki.nu/software/NetBSD/iBook2/