Ok back to pocketMSN
The one reg entry I edit is the one that actually says which DLL file to use - by making that an invalid entry (.dl instead of .dll) the whole stupid pmsnserver.exe will always fail to load/run whenever the system gets the whim to start it up.
All the reg entries are used at various points in a windows os (mobile or otherwise) for loading COM objects and sending them messages - the important one to kill such a COM object from running is the one that points at the program file that actually needs to load/run.
As to why it decided to start doing it now, I have no idea. I do NOT have it loading in the today screen, never did.
All I can tell you is, since making that simple reg edit (and then soft-resetting after waiting a few minutes for the registry cache to be flushed) my battery life has been outstanding.