every tool i know will switch all alpha highlights off.. not just some.. in the advanced menu there are the options under "highlight and viability" and of course "alphas" under" Render types" those and all others i have tried will switch off the ones i can still see only. all the other alpha blends remain un-highlighted.
Its not the end of the world, I can always do a fresh install.. but, i was interested to know what it was that did it.