keypad for throwing

Just started playing Slashem (GTK) again, it's been a long time since my last game.
I'm using Slashem GTK on Ubuntu 7.10 straight from the repository.

I'm running into the following two strange setup problems that I don't remember having when I was running under windows.

1st:  When I set up the display to use big tiles, (game/options/misc/Map Visual=big tiles) it lasts for that one game.  BUT, the setting is forgotten as soon as you save and when you restart the game, the Map Visual is back to character mode.

2nd: I can move with the keypad just fine, but whenever I attempt to throw, it pops up a menu with a really odd letter pad

YKU
H.L
BJN

Huh?  I mean, I can click on the pad and it will work just fine.  But the key arrangement is certainly counter intuitive, and what I would PREFER to use is just the keypad for throwing, same as I'm using for walking.  is that possible?