golinux misses gksu  . . .

Also note that it is a very-bad-idea to use the suite names in sources.list because Devuan and Debian are not always in sync.  It is safer to use codenames to avoid unintended consequences.  Please see https://devuan.org/os/releases.

Gnome has some rough edges period and does not play well with others.  I have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to use it especially on a distribution whose philosophy leans in the opposite direction of Gnome's.  Classic square peg|round hole thinking.

Case in point:
https://linuxreviews.org/Mpv_drops_GNOME_support

LOL!  That would depend on your definition of "serious purposes".  Perhaps the issue is not Devuan but your purposes!

That depends.  I have some wheezy pkgs running on jessie without issue.

Thanks for the heads up.  We'll fix it. 

dmo is a sure path to a frankendevuan. 

Ron . . . have you read the Release Notes?

Definition of "quote":

If ascii is fully upgraded, you should be good to go.

In Synaptic there is an option under "Status" for "Installed (auto removable)".  Some other options are also available if you poke a around a bit.  I am rather sloppy about tending to such things . . .

Did you upgrade ascii before changing your sources list to beowulf?

This is a comment not an answer to your question(s).   I use synaptic most of the time. I also usually start from scratch with a new install so I don't have many upgrades under my belt.  I know you have your reasons but I would never trust a dist upgrade to synaptic. I would do it in a terminal.  Just my .02.

I hope it works out for you . . .

Please read the Beowulf Release Notes.