LOL!
Everything appeared to be working if I manually loaded the module, busybox links are fine, permissions good, but VPN Connections kept FC. I reinstalled, then installed a slightly newer version...no dice. Finally, exasperated, I gave up, rebooted, then gave it one more chance...success!
Seriously, a reboot fixed the issue? It's acting like a Windows machine now...hehehehe.
Anyway, all former functionality is back, with a few more niceties of the newer CM.
So, final word is CMod 7.0.3, Chevy kernel 2.6.32 LV, and VPN Connections .99