I have in the meantime done a ipkg -force-overwrite -force-depends on the core-utils, ps-utils etc. package to force it to partially overwrite the busybox.
The fatter utils seem to work via the shell (taking precedence over the busybox links) but no difference on the playback front.
I tend to think its a rather rare issue with the version I run possibly. Guess best is to wait till the ipkg distripoint on fireflymediaserver.org for the armb distribution is updated and then see it the problem prevails with a top new svs version.
Give me a hump once there is a new version in the ipkg list.