Well the key did NOT have 'updateable' checked, so I checked it and changed my code to the following...

lcStatus = "Customer"
SELECT vTest
INSERT INTO vTest (firstname,lastname,status) ;
VALUES ("Joe","Smith","Customer")
llUpdate = TABLEUPDATE()
? llUpdate
lnRequery = REQUERY('vTest')
? lnRequery
BROWSE

... added the llUpdate and lnRequery, which display .T. and 1 as they should in the above code. BUT the browse still does NOT display the new record. The only way I've found to make it work is to close the view and reopen it... but that's not right!