On another (possibly irrelevant) tangent, I saw another posting after googling that implied that:
<pluginRepository> <id>snapshots</id> <name>snapshot plugins</name> <url>http://snapshots.maven.codehaus.org/maven2</url> </pluginRepository> had been put into semi-retirement and that: <pluginRepository> <id>codehaus.snapshots</id> <name>codehaus snapshot plugins</name> <url>http://snapshots.repository.codehaus.org</url> </pluginRepository> was a better choice. Just adding the latter to repository list in the top-level POM worked for me. Have to agree with much of the <RANT> tho', maven seems to have to much power at the cost of too little control for my liking. Every time you do a build you have to sit there with sweaty palms and crossed fingers, which ain't how it's supposed to be...