Well I figured it out. The problem was the group memberships. This mysql install was set up in the file system differently than my previous version. So even as root I was shut out from modifying these dbs and granting permissions on them.
I had to move copies from my old drive again, reassign the groups, delete the dbs from my new install then move the fixed ones in again. Worked fine and my dbs are back up and running. Now I have to contact HP to tell them one of their scanners is forked in Leopard (show up in devices but the software they give you with the scanner says the scanner is not there >
)