Hello reformedgeek!
[NL]_Target is correct, you need the kernel-headers to compile an interface for the custom/standalone nvidia driver. However i have the exact same problem (on a _much_ slover K7) and i think i found another way to do it:
When you remove the packade
nvidia-kernel-common (which you should have done when trying to remove the nvidia completely) you see that a little secret magik package called
linux-restricted-modules-2.6.x-x-386 is also being removed. This one is the key.
When you try to reinstall the nvidia packages (nvidia-glx and nvidia-kernel-common) this little baby is going to be installed again, but you don't vant the 386 version you want the K7 one.
So, to make the story shorter:
1. remove all nvida packages
2. install the package linux-restricted-modules-2.6.x-x-
K7
3. reinstall the nvidia-glx (and it dependecies)
A
sudo modprobe nvidia should now work (not give any errors)
Reboot the, now tainted, kernel and all should work.
---------------
This way you can use synaptic/apt instead of hand-hacking, wich is nice sometimes. There migth be an easier way of doing the above (maybe the dependecis would atomagically remove the 386 version of linux-restricted-modules when you install the K7-one) but the above is the way i tried fist and it worked. So, this worked for me. But beeing a regular att breakmygentoo.net i think you should use some caution applying my advice
---------------
And, as always; sorry for my poor english
