1.8.1 upgrade 1.8.11 doesn't recognize old accounts/files

[Bill Pier]

Hi,

I've searched quite a bit for even a vaguely appropriate
answer to my predicament, but to no avail.

sitch: upgrade of MDK 9.1 to MDK 10.1
    which upgraded GnuCash from 1.8.1 to 1.8.11

When GnuCash is started it prompts through its
new accounts routine, ignoring the fact that I saved
the ~/.gnome/accels/GnuCash, and the dirs/contents:
~/.gnucash and ~/gnucash.

Why?
With such a minor rev. change I would've expected no
export step necessary.  It's as if GnuCash doesn't even
see the old files/accounts, et. al.

thanks,
Bill Pier