Could we try something like this:
Theme loads-
*netloadmodule xlabel-3.6.1

OTS3 theme defines
xlabel 3.6.1

In the widget.rc
If not xlabel *
*netloadmodule xlabel-3.6.2
endif

the problem this way is the theme takes precedence over the widget.

Another simple way is to standardize the modules to be used within OTS3. There are 1500 modules, but which are the most common ones used today? If xmodules stopped at 2.0 we could just use those.
However this breaks all freedom of litestep!

There has to be a way this can be done...
I still think the widget system should be separate from themes!
They should share the same modules with NLM.
Widgets assume:
jdesk
jkey
popup
systray
are loaded already...

I am going to try and create a new layout with a seperate litestep.exe running if see I can make any progress.

I will report my findings.