yeah, as it turns out, i'm an idiot that like to do things the hard way. easy way: get the file setup.prc from the epocrates site (looks like you have to set up a windows wireless installation). install setup.prc to garnet, and run from within. no problem, and it lets you set up all the related apps (INR, steroids, medmath, etc). all run without problem. what i ended up doing for the other apps is using pilot-xfer to backup all files from my palm, and then reinstall the ones that i want using pilot-xfer from the commandline and wireless hotsync from within garnet--this was surprisingly easy. beware: garnet every once in a while when it crashes (it's happened when i try a new incompatible program) will wipe out all of your data. easy enough to restore if you have the relevant files in a dedicated directory on your desktop.
the command to use is: pilot-xfer -p net:any (options). read the man file for details. hotsync from within garnet is just set to whatever the ip address is of the desktop. this is linux anyway. don't know how to do it from within windows, but presumably it's even easier using palm desktop. hth someone. i'm now using hopkins antibx guide, skyscape apps, as well as all of the little free apps (pregwheel, mentstat, vent weaning, TIMI guidelines, etc) without problem. seems like the only thing that it chokes on is the calculator programs (ICUMath, MedCalc); i had read that garnet has a hard time with mathlib, which i think these programs depend on.