Through DHTML and JavaScript trickery I was able to implement a different round-about solution to avoid appendChild. In the process I noticed Opera does not properly render CuteEditor if it's initial display is set to none. More accuratly, it's containing DIV is set to none (CuteEditor attributes are untouched). Upon setting it's containing DIV to default/block, CuteEditor appears but the editing window is condensed. The toolbar is visible.

 

Can anyone confirm similar problem? Any reason Opera would do this? Luckily I was able to use visibility, but that does not solve my curiosity as to why opera would mangle the editor.