FOR FSCK'S SAKE, it's so hilarious I don't even Whatever, I suddenly remember this sort of thing happening (some program does work when started from terminal but from app menu). It was some games with libsdl-mixer1.2 from extras. When that happened, I supposed what it was that library causing the problem, but now I'm pretty sure there is some bug in hildon.
~ $ apt-cache policy libsdl-mixer1.2 libsdl-mixer1.2: Installed: 1:1.2.6-5+0m5+ogg+mp3-2 Candidate: 1:1.2.6-5+0m5+ogg+mp3-2 Version table: *** 1:1.2.6-5+0m5+ogg+mp3-2 0 500 http://repository.maemo.org fremantle/free Packages 500 http://repository.maemo.org fremantle/free Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status 1:1.2.6-5+0m5+ogg+mp3 0 500 http://repository.maemo.org fremantle-1.3/free Packages 500 http://repository.maemo.org fremantle/free Packages 1:1.2.6-5+0m5 0 500 https://downloads.maemo.nokia.com ./ Packages