The problem was that I had 2 error codes in my OS9 extensions, causing items to vanish and preventing the ability to actually open OS9 in OSX. Since I have OSX installed as the main OS, and open OS9 through it, it was impossible for me to open OS9 at launch, especially with all my options constantly reverting back when I restarted and the computer automatically logging me out of my account each time I restarted it.
Couldn't get to the OS9 extensions no matter what I did. Tried all I could to reinstall with everything saved using the utilities on the computer, but nothing worked. When I finally got it to recognize the disc in the machine, after the 20th restart or so, I found I couldn't reinstall with the saved crap. So ultimately, I had to start from scratch.
Regardless... from what I read, this is a rare extensions error that only occured in OS9, and was fixed before OSX, since OSX doesn't use the extensions the same way OS9 did. So when I reinstalled, I decided not to bother putting OS9 back on the system.
In another year, I'll probably get a new Intel Mac. Be it a Tower or iMac, or even a Macbook Pro, I dunno... but after 7 years with this computer, I figure an actual upgrade isn't out of the question.