Description of Problem:
edge panel crashes if repositioned

Steps to reproduce the problem:
1. Fresh installation of Redhat 8.0
2. Move edge-panel to the left
3. Endless loop of gnome-panel crash/autorestarts
after a reboot

Actual Results:
makes system unusable

Expected Results:
no crashes

How often does this happen? 
Each login or dismissal of crash dialog

Additional Information:
I have been able to get back to a working system
by finding the config file that controls the
location of the edge panel.  In this case, the
file is
".gconf/apps/panel/profiles/default/panels/bottom_panel/%gconf.xml"
in my home dir.  Since the edge-panel worked fine
when positioned at the bottom of the desktop, I
tracked down the appropriate parameter (called
screen_edge)in this file and changed the value
from "panel-edge-left" to "panel-edge-bottom". 
This did not fix the problem right away because
apparently this config is cached somewhere and the
cache is reread instead of the file during a
restart of gnome-panel.  But a clean reboot fixed
it and the panel is back on the bottom of the
desktop and hasn't crashed since.