I tried out the new network manager (nm-applet, rc.dhcpcd rc.networkmanager) - prior to -8dl, I had to disable all USE_DHCP='yes' 
entries in my rc.init1.conf file. However, after the upgrade, I had to ENABLE dhcp (USE_DHCP[0]="yes") on my wireless adapter to get the nm-applet to even 
start in gnome (and it did start, and it works fine now that I turned on dhcp). I've tried the network manager via wireless
 on two different networks now (and it is autojoining them after my initial join).