another question though - to run the NXT client, I first need to click the run.bat file (re which i've created a desktop shortcut) and then I can connect, via, my browser to the client - I've always assumed that that's the way it's supposed to work - i.e. a 2 step process. Is that right? The reason I ask is because with other coin wallets all I need to do is click on the desktop icon (or the tray icon) and those wallets open without needing to click on a run.bat file
Well, you have two possibilities:
1) running a Nxt node (that is part of the Nxt network); this node provides a interface via the Web-Browser
2) running a Nxt client; this only connects to the network and presents a native user interface
You actually did 1). That is good for Nxt because it stabilize the network. +1
You can do 2). That is no problem. There are plenty of 1-click-clients out there. (I like the Wesley client, but well, do not hesitate to checkout others!)