well...I feel like an idiot.
Thank you very much for your help 

 
...no, just the PACs.  That's what worked for me before my console got updated and I had to reinstall everything involving homebrew.
  could that really be the problem?

 
I've got a bunch of textures on my SD card (all in the right subfolders), as well as Gecko (19.3.1), and a .GCT file that has the newest File Replacement mod for the US version of Brawl (3.5.1, I think) my console's modded to be able to use skins and everything (system menu 4.2, I think...I can check later if necessary).  So, that's all working right.

Here's my problem: I can get custom textured stages, and custom made stages (i.e. I have Hyrule 64, Saffaron (running over the Kid Icarus stage), Astral Phazon Destination, and the Monster Hunter Tri desert stage (running over Pictochat), but I can't get any custom textures or vertex characters working.    Samus and Zero Suit Samus' textures/vertexes show up after they use their Final Smashes. 

So, I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out what to do to get this working, 'cuz custom textures/vertexes really add a lot to the game.  Thanks a ton