Look at the attachment first...
What the heck?
I think the culprit was Duality. Since installing the 10.2.3 update Duality refused to install any other theme (not to mention it reverted to the default theme - altho the bootup screen is still my old theme) and since I have the trial version - the wait time went from a couple of seconds before the 10.2.3 update, to over 100 seconds after.
The theme I was using before the update was Brushed 2.1.
I have just now noticed the problem with the disapearing widgets - it only happens on apps that use the Brushed Metal look. The Widgets are fine on Aqua apps.
I have downloaded the newer Brushed theme from
http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/ but Duality refuses to install it saying it's not for my version of OSX - even tho the website says 10.2 - 10.2.3.
Can anyone help me either get the GUI back to normal - or make the Brushed Duality theme work?
Thanks in Advanced for any help.