Will it took a while, i think i solve some of the problems. To edit the system strings without the "failed to save".download customize 2.2.1 from cydia to iphone then Go to
http://customizeapp.com/ and download customize 2.2.1 to computer. after that ssh in to iphone ,replace the customize.apps in the iphone with the one you download to the computer.(location for iphone 1st gen ssh is

rivate/var/stash/application.70wq...(might be different for ipod not sure)) then reboot iphone. the system strings edit should work. customzie work, but not 100% you can download things but some will crash, but the file is downloaded and you can use most of the stuff u download not all.(my way is not perfect but at least i can u most of the stuff in customzie 2.2.1) when you applied something in customize and it crash go back to customize and restart the springboard to make most of it work