RE: KSplash
Fixed it. Had to be a bit radical but I removed all files in the KSplash Cache folder, then when that didn't work I moved all the themes files from my /~/.kde/share/apps/ksplash/themes/ to /usr/share/apps/ksplash/themes/ folder.
Not sure why but after I did that they started working correctly again.
--Shaun
It isn't about it being free, rather its about the freedom it brings.