Two things may help:
1. Use the Package Manager and install things online: before installing anything, go online, start Package Manager, go to the Setting window, remove the original arcane feed address and add the current ones ( e.g.
http://mail.pdaxrom.org/download/1.1.0beta...rus-Cxx00/feed/ , depending on your pdaXrom version. Adding the C7x0-860 ones also coz they may have more packages), press the turning arrow button to refresh, then check to see if a whole list pops up in the Available window. Then normally all the required files/dependency will get installed automatically together with your target package.
(Or in the terminal: Edit /etc/ipkg.conf, add "src http://... ", save and then run "ipkg update", finally "ipkg install xyz" (xyz = the package name, not the package file name). Same results)
2. Search for things in the Filelist: If you look at the feeds pages, there are two links on the top called "Filelist" and "Packages". Packages tell you the dependencies, and Filelist will list all the files contained in the packages. Usually a simple search in the Filelist will locate the missing library or file there.
I agree that Zaurus/Linux really needs some getting used to. But undoubtedly it has capacity, flexibility and potential far beyond the PPCs and Palm PDAs. Well of course if you are just looking for a pure and simple PDA, I would recommend a Palm device.
Hope that helps.
