turns out it wasn't a mysql issue - phpMyAdmin (at least on my system) doesn't understand that 127.0.0.1 and localhost are equivalent, but obviously not identical....changed from the IP to the DNS and everything is fine.
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = 'localhost';
strange, really strange. Makes no sense but then, it's software, right?
Thanks for the offer, but the system is on a private network with no external access.
ok, too late for law school (and too expensive) but A&P school might be interesting.