Thank you!
Just what I wanted. A non-session-manager method to customize my buttons. I don't want the KDE, Gnome, or even XFCE control panel manager thing. I setup my own X session without them.
In responce to the other commenters saying "there is a better way - be a sheep and only want what the leaders tell you you want", I say "Fooey!" I like Linux because I _can_ (mostly) make things work _for_ my _my_ way - not have to adapt my use to whatever "the system" says is best.
So I want the buttons for my own uses - not necessarily the same as what is silkscreened on the keyboard. For example, I use the button labeled "mail" to open an xterm.
hotkeys is just right for me. Customizable and easy. And this tutorial explained it well enough it was very easy for me to get setup. I did use hotkeys man page for further details. *smiles*
Conclusion? You did good. Ignore those other comments!
--fm