Isn't the path for Finder (and hence, any GUI-launched Cocoa apps) set from your login shell? If your login shell and the shell you're using in Terminal.app aren't the same, that'd probably lead to some confusion.

Isn't the path for Finder (and hence, any GUI-launched Cocoa apps) set from your login shell? If your login shell and the shell you're using in Terminal.app aren't the same, that'd probably lead to some confusion.

This information might be helpful: http://lists.apple.com/archives/cocoa-dev/2005/Oct/msg00528.html

Apparently, the "right" way to set environment variables for GUI processes is in a hidden .plist file. I'm sure I knew this at one point, then promptly forgot it.