The Save button should save your current settings for you. If it isn't doing that, I'd suggest a reinstallation of the software to rule out of any install-related problems.
Check the Keyboard Shortcut Override Toggle. There's a bug where it is active but the button doesn't actually show as depressed. If you click it and it doesn't depress, then you're good to go.
You select an object, Right click it and choose convert to Editable Poly or Editable Mesh and under the "Edit Geometry" rollout there is a button labeled Attach and Attach List.
For good measure click the 'FreezeM' button (lower right on the main control panel, under edit), then do what Talon suggested. That should definitely do the trick.
Go to Customize > Customize UI > Toolbars Tab > change the category to, Modeling Graphite Tools > drag "Graphite Modeling Tools... out into the main button toolbar and click it.