Extremely hostile init file migration experience with 21.5.

Suppose I create a trivial .emacs file like rm .emacs; touch .emacs then run xemacs xemacs -no-site-file XEmacs *looks* like it's perfectly content merely putting up the splash screen, when in fact it's asking a question. If I then type M-x, I get Command attempted to use minibuffer while in minibuffer (and I see a Help buffer with migration instructions) even though there was no clue the minibuffer was active. Even more horrible things, from a UI perspective, happen if the user does File->Open as the first action in the xemacs session. A broken file dialog box appears, and this message is displayed: Minibuffer already active: abort it with `^]', enable new one with `n':