There are reports elsewhere of problems with iPhoto upgrades. Specifically, the updating of the iPhoto database stalls and installation fails.

Any first-hand experiences out there?

Not my experience, but at this link (scroll down to the bottom) there is an interesting story of what might be going on and possible solutions. Amazingly it involves a software engineer for Apple who worked on iPhoto.

Clearly this topic is all about me.

I'll answer my own post. I have installed iLife '11. After doing the install from the DVD, and before opening any iLife applications, I repaired permissions. There were many repairs and most of them seemed to involve languages.

Then, again before opening any applications, I installed the iPhoto 9.0.1 Update, repaired permissions again and then opened iPhoto. The database was converted and iPhoto opened with no apparent problems.

Prior to the entire installation I backed up and also ran DiskWarrior.