If I'm reading her (him, it, them... Emma) correctly I think the problem is centered around what is already in the works. A good document and design to get new users started... some form of flow chart/diagram/tour of Maemo and the different components. What each thing is for, why we have them, etc.

Some easy way of getting users familiar with the different parts of the community so when they read posts by people like me it doesn't float over their head with all the acronyms and references to fanciful tools that they've never heard of.