I'm sorry RateU, but you have completely lost me.
The {$xtstickies_list} is already in forum display as it is the container for the stickies. It doesn't really go in showthread, but I wanted to keep the option open. I didn't see the point of putting it direct into templates as its for XThreads and therefore would be a custom template. So its up to the admin to put the variable where they want it in the template.
My problem is indeed around running the xtdispforum_tcache function, if I take OUT that global then the plugin does not display the variable (of course). My problem is that I don't actually know HOW to move that hook or indeed where to. It does work as it is - but its not optimised - so I need a TAD more detail on how to do it.