Glen,
You're right in that the manager objects do not get instantiated until the first time their services are requested. The application object and Factory do get instantiated first, and typically the App Settings Manager gets instantiated soon after (you usually don't get too far without checking some config settings). The Form Manager gets instantiated when the first form is instantiated, the Database Manager gets instantiated when data is first accessed, and the Security and User Managers get instantiated when first requesting user credentials. Note that the version of MM .NET you currently have doesn't instantiate the User and Security Managers yet!
Regards,
Kevin McNeish
Eight-Time .NET MVP
VFP and iOS Author, Speaker & Trainer
Oak Leaf Enterprises, Inc.
Chief Architect, MM Framework
http://www.oakleafsd.com