Path Finder

Being able to somehow change the directory from where Finder draws the desktop would be great. ...

In that case, I retract my suggestion and replace it with: Open Terminal.app and start getting use to using the 'cd' command, and 'ls' to list files/folders. That's about as fast as it can get.

How would using Path Finder change the behavior of the Screen Saver Preference Pane? ...

Try Path Finder. I believe it allows you to change label colors... sorry, I'm not certain, because I'm not in OS X right now. ...

use Path Finder! ...

Yeah, Path Finder will make a difference. It'll take even longer. If speed is your priority, then I'm sorry, but nice as it is, Path Finder isn't the answer. ...

Does Finder generate thumbnail "previews" of each file? ...

Path Finder is a file browser, and as such works better than Apple's Finder because it functions consistently. ...

To be honest, I never liked Path Finder too much, a lot of the time it just felt too busy and still has problems achieving the Spatial Finder described in the article you linked (the last time I used it). However, I personally think that the whole GUI concept can use a re-design. Treating applications as seperate objects to the user is not always the best way, but rather...

can come up with a better solution in a short time. Path Finder isn't perfect, but it makes a point. ...