Since this is my first run with Debian, I can't pretend to be a real guru; I'm just relating my experience based on my current understanding. What I do have is an inclination to share what I know, and maybe even some talent at it.

My list was supposed to be steps, not options. You could probably just run apt-get dist-upgrade like I did, but it seems to turn into more work that way. If you simply wipe KDE 3.0.4, it's easier. That is, if you have the proper mirror for the latest version of KDE in your sources list. You can get the line, properly formatted, from the KDE info page for release 3.1. Then, all you have to do is run apt-get update, then install libqt3, kdelibs4, etc. The packages are grouped under a single tiny package named for the group, for example: kdebase. This package has a dependency on all the packages in that group except for the development packages. You can get those later.

I'm running KDE 3.1 now, and it's really worth the hassle to me.

Keep asking questions; somebody is likely to at least try to answer.