Sorry the loadout doesn't work, Mookie. Were you trying in beta 1.0 or 1.1h? It worked for Doc.No in 1.1h but I don't think custom loadouts work in beta 1.0. That VMEX comment in the BSP from me decompiling the map at some point in development.
I've noticed the same thing the guy talking to Educator noticed about strange behavior with HDR on. The lighting goes crazy randomly. It seems to be a Source glitch because I've noticed it in Cradle too. I'm not sure what causes it. Turning off HDR should fix it.