Just did a revert to the first version, and that works fine (appears to work fine even when launched from the menu).

Did:

apt-get install mypaint=0.8.2-1maemo1

and got a really nice version with a strip menu bar, opening windows and full default functionality (which i prefer to the hildonized version)

apparently hildonizing the app (which i don't see a point to, since it removes functionality or at least makes it harder to get) pretty much breaks it for me.

the only thing now is to stop getting updates to the thing, i prefer to leave it to this version.

EDIT:
To keep a certain version run this as root:
echo mypaint hold | dpkg --set-selections

To remove the hold:
echo mypaint install | dpkg --set-selections