I added options GENERIC to the config file I use (it
was a copy of an old GENERIC-config, and I didn't remember
to add that after it was added to the GENERIC-config. doh),
and now it boots happily, albeit still without the
swapping 411 and 401.
swapdev = 411, dumpdev = ffffffff.
part, vmstat hangs until I interrupt it and pstat -s only
shows the header line. Quick look at autoconf/swapgeneric.c
didn't cause any revelation, but I'll see more about them
later today.

-- 
Religious fanatics harangue the crowd from helicopters
and rain stone tablets on their heads, inscribed with
meaningless messages