Difficulty Settings won't 'take'
 

I keep bringing up the difficulty settings before I load my mission:

Limited Batteries
Limited Compressed Air
etc
etc
etc

I get it up to Realism 77 (what I think will be fun to play)... and when I load my game none of the settings stay.

I select (no outside view).. and the outside view still works.

Do I have to go in and hard modify some file to make it work right?

If you modify the realism in the main menu and start a new carrer and choose (or should I say leave) the easy settings, it would override the changes of the main menu.
Hope that helps

I was afraid someone was going to tell me to make the settings 'stick' I'd have to start a new campaign.

Ah well.. let me win the war this way and then I'll start out the next campaign with harder settings. :)

I guess I just extended the playability of the game by 200X. :D

Its a radio

The "career" settings (options) are set through the office before you start a mission. This confuses most people first time around. While in the office, look to your left (mouse over) on the bookshelf for "options" ...you will also find a save and load function..find the right book and set your preferences from there.

Ah, spectacular, thank you.

It looks like I am starting the saving of all my MOD files and such and preparing for an uninstall and reinstall again (4th time). After installing the Balao Weathered Skin none of my missions will load. (it's not the same saved game error, this is a full up system lock up when loading the game in port).

I use those skins (Foobor's) and have no problem, they look good. Maybe a bad download.