Has anyone created a progs specifically for speedmaps? Simple things like fixing kill count, Shambler collision and other bugfixes? I'm thinking about doing this.

I know traditionally, dropping maps into id1/maps was the SOP but I always make a mod folder for SM releases. Users could back up the standard progs if they prefer that method. 

There is the "Ultimate Regular Quake Patch" which is supposed to be a good replacement for the id1 progs, fixing things like fish count and megahealth double-rot speed etc, without changing any gameplay.

https://www.quake-info-pool.net/files/addons/ 

Cool. I was aware of this one but it adds quite a bit with bots and skins etc. I'll mess around with it and see if it's a good candidate for speed mapping. 

Anyone know why fimg and Wally refuse to open my gfx.wad?

Fimg returns an "invalid extension" error, Wally attempts to load the thing but all items within are grayed out. 

Might be corupted (?!) Did you check with Quark/new textures/import wad? 

The game wouldn't run if it was corrupted, right? 

No idea about Fimg. Wally may be a missing palette.lmp file perhaps?

Try AdQuedit if you haven't. 

But it shows me the contents of gfx.wad as all black?

I opened it with the quake palette file that was provided and everything.