I think I'm going to bag this for the day, maybe permanently. I'm beginning to think I've got at least major software, and possibly hardware issues. This thing has led me on a wild goose chase looking for over-elaborate solutions to simple problems, when it's now looking like it's just broken.

The media I can get to play run at about five frames per minute. Throughput is decent on other devices over wireless so it's not the network.

A punt to the back yard is sounding like a reasonable alternative at the moment. Thanks for your help. I'm a glutton for punishment so I'll probably be back, unless in a moment of sanity I step on this thing.