I guess bottom line: The pb and its current OS did not gracefully handle the "big meal deal" I flung at it the other night. I can accept that it might have locked up or refused to run apps until it was rebooted. But I don't think that shoving too much file at it should have led to the melt-down that killed the HOMESCREEN Folders.
I added that to the original message - it was not the directory or folder/subfolder structure where files are stored but it was the Folders that store ICONS on the homescreen and subsidiary panels/panes that were gone.