@Dico: try to localize the crash event in your code e.g. by sys_marker (I had also a crash with last beta, I did tests, reported, and now okay)
@ Jcl:
the terrain deformation is really fine now, auto updating normals would be fine too (but not essential, it can be done by script...)
decal and stencil shadows also fine in all the earlier problematic circumstances, but yesterday I was able to create another undesired behaviour. unfortunately my children prevented me of making notes (I had to play with them), but I will do the tests again this week...