I have not had any problems with IBar myself, but then I don't run the CD live at all, it's installed. It's possible that because IBar is trying to add/change settings on the configuration settings that are running live, that it cannot go back to the CD and make changes to it? Try installing in VBox if you have any concerns and see how it does for you. I think VBox is an amazing too to test and ISO all the way through install, update and adding any apps you like.
Yes, that was it... once it's properly installed into a hard drive, the IBar returns to normal and the already-existing(?) two entries do appear in it (whereas on the live CD boot they do not; there, the IBar is completely blank.). I am now also able to add new applications to it in the usual manner(s).
I do agree that VirtualBox may at times be a useful tool - if one has the disk space. However, I do not; for my situation it is much easier to simply grab another old P3 off the pile, wipe it, and try it. In this instance I got one with an old nVidia card, and the video resolution was not detected properly - meaning that the startup messages and bootsplash occupy only the upper quarter of the screen, until the desktop proper finally starts up and the display resolution is returned to its normal (full) 1024x768.
VirtualBox may be good for testing any non-driver parts of the system, but when it comes to hardware and drivers I still think it best to always do at least a check on the actual iron. I suppose I'm too cranky and old-fashioned. I found VirtualBox useful for running Windows at work at one point, but that was about it.
Thank you again, Linuxera! This old P3 is now flying along almost as fast as if I'd installed its original Windows 98 back into it!