Thanks Paul.
I'm finding Tinycore Linux equally frustrating and refreshing, and I get that is partially because I'm using a beta version because I am forced to by using current PI hardware.
Getting the system to do what I want is far easier without the hundreds of scripts "helping" out that you get with thicker distributions - my terrible experience with rasprian UDEV rules, and trying to switch between AP and normal mode works like a dream on TCL.
But while i am no newbie to linux and programming, i'm still trying to get my head round how to put things together - I'm not sure where I'd even start on building missing pieces.