thumbs down to MEPIS 7's Network Assistant
 

In my opinion, MEPIS 7's network setup, the "MEPIS Network Assistant," is a kludge compared with the setup in MEPIS 3.4, whatever that was called (I don't remember). I learned within a day or two what settings to adjust and what to ignore in 3.4, and memorized the process. With this Network Assistant, I only today got my network running, after a year of on-and-off trying. (Actually, I did it before, but only by transplanting to MEPIS 7 all the MEPIS 3.4 files I could find that contained network settings. So, this is still the first time I activated my network in MEPIS 7 without help from 3.4).
I had to tweak so many settings and reboot so many times that I have no idea which changes made the difference. Honestly, it was as though it just decided to work. Running the network as definitely easier in 3.4. 7 took a step backward.

I'm running MEPIS 3.3.2, 6.0, & 7.073uce on 3 separates boxen (connected to a KVM).

I don't use WiFi (yet) & I do what little wired LAN configuring I need on the CLI. I need some clarification to understand your complaint.

1. Are you talking about a wired or wireless LAN?

2. What menu item in 3.3.4 are you talking about? Do you know its "Run box" command name? -- I'm it's the same in 3.3.2 & I can go compare the 2 & thus understand what you are saying.

This is important to me because I do a lot of outreach & beginner training, so I need to be able to show more GUI & fewer CLI methods of doing things

It's a wireless LAN. To recall what the menu item was, I'll have to make a new MEPIS 3.4 liveCD and get back to you; I was making this comparison from memory. (I actually made a MEPIS 3.4 liveCD yesterday, but it seems to have been a failed burn--it wouldn't run.)

The info you provided is sufficient provided (:)) it's the old WiFi management that you miss.

In MEPIS 3.3.2, that was at KMenu -> Internet -> Connection -> Wireless LAN Manager (KWiFiManager). The package & command name was kwifimanager. kwifimanager is not installed by default in 7.073uce, but is available in KPackage, i.e. the repositories. So use whichever package manager you prefer & install kwifimanager. If it does not appear in the menu system, you have 3 1/2 choices:

1. Use the "Run Command" dialog --
   1. using the K Menu,
   2. using Alt+F2 on the keyboard.
2. Write your own Menu item.
3. Ask here how to get it added automatically.

Security Warning: Although the KWiFiManager Handbook mentions WPA in its discussion of wireless security, it has instructions only for using WEP. Therefore I presume it can't use WPA, although we can hope it's a feature on the developer's to-do list.