Thanks, but I had actually updated to 1.32.3 on 6/4/11, it is in the repo.
The root passwd thing is just a feature of xfe, and is adjustable to use sudo in Edit > Preferences > General > Root Mode. Check to use sudo and it will not ask for a passwd. It works when you have to enter a passwd though, you just have to have set a root passwd and then enter it when asked.