Re: getting root access, all you have to do to get root is install one package (is it getroot or becomeroot? I don't remember...) through the package manager. Then, from the terminal, sudo gainroot makes you root... The days of ssh being required, or of having to reflash with rd-mode, are gone. I assume you're referring to one of those techniques with "developer-class knowledge".

For fonts, you need to use fc-cache... dunno if you tried that and still had trouble.