I like the vertical bars outlining the function structures - how is that done?

I can’t help with your problem (other than maybe try knocking the config back to the absolute minimum and if that works then try adding back bits until it breaks again) but i can’t believe you’re re-mapping C-x e, it’s just so useful as kmacro-end-and-call-macro.

I can’t recall where I first heard the term, but ‘angry fruit salad’ is so descriptive of so many of them.