It appears that /usr/bin/startkde is scanning for netscape plugins at each startup even if you have it checked off in the kdecontrol panel. I just did a quick edit as root with kwrite and commented out this section and my kde boots up much much faster!
# Laurent kde2.2-30mdk scan-nsplugins #if [ -x /usr/bin/nspluginscan ]; then # /usr/bin/nspluginscan #fi
