@philmoz : attached below is a very small patch file that causes the script console in <ALT> mode to redraw using the same mechanism as your menu redraw code. Would you take a look and if it looks okay to you add to the trunk at some point. I got tired of testing scripts and losing the script window with my debug messages all the time.
UPDATE : on my SD940, this patch seems to cause the Visual Settings -> color select menu to "dissappear" much like the menus used to (but in playback mode). If I move the cursor, the color menu briefly redraws and then dissappears again. Strangely, this does not happen with my G10.